Marston's goes into bat with Ashes banter
A bit of good natured banter is as much a part of the cricket atmosphere as the crack of willow on leather.
In that spirit, Marston's has launched a series of adverts poking good-humoured fun at the Aussies ahead of the first Ashes test next week.
Part of Marston's 'England has it campaign', the tongue-in-cheek ads include the lines:
- 'England has History. Australia has Previous'
- 'We have beer in our blood. Australians have lemon juice in their hair'
- 'We're English, we brew beer. You're Australian, you serve it'
Pedigree brewer Marston's aims to reflect the true spirit of the historic clash, as well as highlight the 'pedigree' of English cricket.
The heritage of well-chosen insults was started by the Australians' themselves in 1882, when the English Sporting Times published an Aussie-funded advert bearing the infamous line 'English cricket has died and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'.
Marston's marketing director, Peter Jackson said: "England and Australia love to 'hate' each other for the five Test matches that stand between them and that tiny urn, it's a unique rivalry that you don't find at any other test - but it's all in good humour.
"The very fact that we have engaged in a bit of light-hearted banter is a more of a compliment than anything else. The Aussies would probably be more offended if we didn't!"
The ads will appear on posters around cricket grounds as well in the press and on posters.
