England wins back the Ashes

England won back the Ashes for the first time since 1987 when they drew the final Test at The Oval on Monday 12^th September.

Millions have been gripped by Ashes fever over the summer as England finally overcame Australia in one of the tightest and most dramatic Test series in living memory.

Hundreds of fans clambered on to roofs and peered through gates in a bid to get a glimpse of live play, since tickets had long been sold out, while millions more watched with bated breath on televisions in homes, offices and pubs.

Reflecting on the momentous victory and the reaction of the public, Captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Sport: "It's amazing to see the front pages and hear people's responses."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been closely tracking progress during his visit to the Far East, wrote in a letter to Vaughan: "By bringing the Ashes back after so long you have given cricket a huge boost and lit up the whole summer."

The following day England's victorious cricketers were given a rapturous reception in sun-drenched Trafalgar Square at the end a 90-minute open-topped bus parade through the streets of the capital.

Vaughan thanked the "fantastic" thronging crowd and admitted: "This is beyond a dream."

Ever increasing mission field

These amazing scenes serve to reiterate the power of sport in our nation. It is reported that the sale of cricket bats has risen substantially in recent weeks! It’s not surprising that during a summer of atrocities on the streets of London, British people see the intensity and enjoyment that cricket, and sport in general, brings as a way of escape from reality and a means of asserting national identity and pride.

More people than ever before are participating in sport and numbers are set to increase even further. By 2020 the UK government aims to see 70% of adults playing some kind of sport every week and is investing millions of pounds to make this happen. The 2012 London Olympics will also be a huge milestone in the development of sport in our nation.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 9:37&38.

Sport is huge, and if we want to reach our nation for Christ, sport is a very strategic place to start.

As we at Christians in Sport look out on the sports fields of our nation we see many who don’t yet follow Jesus. We also see the “harvesters” – Christian sports men and women - who can tell them about him. We have a vision of every Christian sportsperson in the UK praying for their sporting friends; playing in a way that honours God, and saying something about Jesus to their friends, and we exist to help make this happen.

If you’re a Christian involved in sport and have a passion to share Jesus Christ with your friends or team mates or if you’re involved in sport and not yet sure about the Christian faith we’d love to hear from you. Send an email or find out more from our get involved section.

Whether you’re an elite athlete, a club player or just enjoy the occasional game or workout at the gym, you can make sport your mission – and we can support you in it.

Michael Vaughan’s dream came true when his team won the Ashes, but the Bible teaches that even the glory of that wonderful achievement will fade with time. However, the dream of seeing throngs of sportspeople coming to Christ will never fade and will last for eternity.