From the Ashes has an anecdotal tone rather than a historical one, with its overly sentimental, half-assed recollections of fleeting glory ultimately proving as embarrassing as they are dull. It is, like Page One, a servile and banal documentary treatment, only here the stated enemies (Australian cricketers) are at least given airtime to offer up statements of greater wisdom and interest than anything cooked up by Brits going all starry-eyed about a sporting achievement that didn't stick.

A well made, interesting documentary, that only ocassionally manages to portray how brilliant test cricket can be. Despite it's best attempts it's unlikely entice many non-cricket fans to view it, & in doing so will alienate some of the very cricket fans it was made for. That said, the backdrop of social unrest in Thatcher's Britain makes for compelling social relevance. Some of the footage suffers with age, but the real joys here are seeing Beefy destroy the Aussies & Merv Hughes' facial hair!