One of the oldest and most popular Services sports is Cricket. Whether it be played out the back of the Section during a lunchtime, or at Combined Service level, it attracts keen interest and the Australian spirit of "getting out there and having a go". Even the occasional cricket supporter will stand-up and "be counted" when Australia is playing England in a Test series for that icon, "The Ashes".
Whilst at the Inter-Service level "The Ashes" are not up for contention, competition is just as keen. For many years the organisation of Tri-Service cricket was very disjointed. In 1986, the Australian Services Cricket Association (ASCA) was formed from one man's desire to see Servicemen able to represent the Defence Force at a national level. He had discovered that there was a mechanism in place to achieve the formation of such an Association. He wrote the constitution, appointed himself President, had these approved by the Australian Defence Force Sports Council thereby bringing about ASCA. This person was Lieutenant Colonel (Colonel) Denis Byrne, (retired).
This Association has the responsibility for conducting Inter-Service cricket at a national level, hosting tours by other nations' Defence Force Combined Service cricket teams and co-ordinating such tours to other countries. One such tour is that to England in July and August 1993.
