The Ashes: English cricket legend takes on Australian bowler in BBQ competition

‘What chance have you got? We actually invented the things!’

The Battle for the Ashes took a culinary twist when legendary cricketers from the rival teams took part a barbecue competition.

Former England captain Alec Stewart OBE and former Australian fast-bowler Jeff Thomson brought their sporting rivalry into the culinary arena to decide who is king of the grill.

The cricket icons pitted their own signature dishes against one another at an Ashes themed garden party.

Stewart, who played for England from 1989 to 2003, and Thomson – known widely as the fastest bowler in the world – did not mince their words as the temperature rose.

Each chose their own dish to prepare, with Stewart opting for a stacked burger, and Thomson choosing a traditional steak and prawn combo.

The pair’s efforts were overseen by professional chef Ashley Hatton, who holds the position of head of development at Michelin-starred Fat Duck Group.

The competitors were given identical charcoal barbecues.

As the temperatures rose, so did the sledging, Thomson delivering a savage burn to Mr Stewart’s overdone burgers.

“That’s as close as you’re getting to the Ashes this summer," he said.

“This will be an easy one for me being an Aussie. What chance have you got in a barbecue competition? We actually invented the things!”

But when it came to the taste test the Australian was bowled over, with Ashley Hatton praising Stewart’s juicy beef burger, while adding that Thomson’s steak looked “a little bit dry’’.

The elated Stewart was awarded a replica of the Ashes cup to hoist.

“The win was certainly justified," he said. “You look at class, you look at quality, and you look at the end product, and comparing my burger to Thommo’s steak? There really wasn’t a contest. It’s about winning, not about taking part.”

The next clash between England and Australia on the cricket pitch will take place on 1 August.

As of 2018, the tally of wins between the two nations over the Ashes stands at 33 wins to Australia and 32 wins to England.

SWNS