IT’S the fiercest rivalry in sport, involving two historic adversaries – many close pals off the field – who every two years clash viciously for bragging rights . . . and the small matter of a tiny urn.

And on the eve of The Ashes, with England and Australia ready to face off at Birmingham’s Edgbaston tomorrow, little separates the in-form sides both fancying their chances of a series victory.

But as ever, the battle has already been raging for months in the traditional war of words between the sides and their supporters.

Known as “sledging”, the taunting gives this sporting clash its unique edge.

Legendary former England bowler Darren Gough, 52, recalls: “As a player, you get it from the second you land on opposition soil.

“They’re in your face, calling you all sorts, saying you haven’t got a chance  . . . but, weirdly, you love it.

“It’s all over the media, the front and back pages, the TV and the radio, it’s everywhere.

“It’s designed to intimidate the opposition but that’s what makes it such a great event.

“I remember the first time I stepped off the plane in Australia for a series in ’94.

“I was just a kid, I didn’t know what to expect.

“I’d sat squeezed on the plane between (Mike) Gatting and (Graham) Gooch and got off after 20 hours of flying to total chaos.

“But it gave me the chance to be a showman and a personality, as well as a sportsman.

“I guess what I really wanted was to be on Saturday night telly, so playing in The Ashes was the next best thing.

“It let you play a character.”

Brilliant character

He jokes: “What every Ashes player really wants is to go and play at their place and beat them.

“That’s the best response to the sledging and it’s how you earn respect.

“That’s why it’s OK to dish it out a bit in Ashes cricket, because there is so much mutual respect underneath it all.”

Darren — the charismatic spearhead of England’s bowling attack for much of the Nineties — made his Ashes debut in 1994 as a relative unknown in a squad far outclassed by the opposition.

And he instantly felt the heat of the Aussie’s brash arrogance.

But he recalls how he was bowled over when his rival Down Under, Merv Hughes, was the one to take pelters during a pre-match function.

Darren says: “Back in those days we used to do a launch dinner, laid on by the sponsors, a couple of days before the first Test.

“Each team put a player up to speak on stage and none of our lot wanted to do it.

“I was young and a bit fearless at the time so I did it.

“I got up next to Merv Hughes, who was massive and took all the stick, and funnily enough I think that earned me their respect.

“It’s a shame they stopped doing that afterwards — I loved it!”

His star turn — taking 20 wickets in just three Tests before sustaining an injury and landing Man of the Match in Sydney — also saw him win over Aussie fans.

He adds: “The thing with the fans in The Ashes is they’re the most brutal but also the most respectful if you perform.”

It’s a gift only the game’s biggest stars achieve, none more so than the late Shane Warne, the Aussie spin maestro who lit up his side’s bowling for a generation and brought as much to rivalry off the field as on it.

As Darren recalls: “Often you’re playing against your mates in The Ashes.

“I’d played with Aussies at Yorkshire, but you put it on hold.

“Warney was a good mate, we always stayed in touch.

“But he was brilliant in The Ashes, he was what it was all about, a proper competitor and a brilliant character.”

Shane, who passed away last year aged 52, had a love-hate relationship with the Brit faithful, epitomised during his romance with glamorous actress and model Liz Hurley — which had made headlines around the world.

He revealed he had even given her “sledging lessons” to prepare her for the sport’s fiery atmosphere.

As his career progressed, heckles and abuse would often change to chants of admiration as Warne kept dazzling on the field.

England fans would sing, “We only wish you were English” to the blond-haired idol, who removed his hat and bowed to opposition supporters with a broad grin in a show of mutual respect.

But it was Shane’s reputation as a ladies’ man which gave rise to one of the sport’s many great moments.

Former England all-rounder Adam Hollioake, 51, who had been born in Australia but played for England, recalled how he was braced for a rough ride during his first Test when Warne mockingly began reeling off the names of his Aussie relatives.

He jokes: “I knew when I came out to bat I was going to get it.

“I’m thinking, ‘I just had a really good performance against them in the one-dayers so I know they’re going to be out for me’.

“They said, ‘Here he is, playing his first game for England, all his family back in Australia wishing he was playing for Australia — Uncle Rex’.

“I was like, ‘S***, they know Uncle Rex. How do they know Uncle Rex?’.

“Then they said ‘Aunty Jan’. I was like, ‘How the hell do you guys know Aunty Jan?’.

“They had gone away and found out the names of all my relatives.

“I knew Warnie was a bit of a womaniser at the time. I was like, ‘Has Warnie been with my Aunty Jan?’.

“As I faced my first ball in Test cricket that’s all I can think about.

“My first ball is just a blur. I’m just trying to solve the puzzle, has Warnie been around to see my Aunty Jan?”

Adam managed to push the distraction aside, scoring 45 in the first innings.

But England slumped to a crushing 64-run loss and Australia won the series 3-2.

This year’s contest looks set to be a tight battle, with both sides packed with promising talent and a fierce desire to win, a shift in the England camp’s mood that many fans trace back to the side’s historic 2005 victory, spearheaded by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, whose bleary-eyed celebrations at Downing Street with Kevin Pietersen went down in folklore.

Darren explains: “That’s really when The Ashes changed again, it reignited it.

“There had been a period before where Australia had just dominated, they had such a strong squad and every series had been so one-sided it had lost some of its appeal.

“But 2005 was different, the belief was back, Freddie really led that and that’s why the whole nation got behind it again.

“We loved to see the characters, the celebrations and the competitive spirit on the pitch.

“The belief was back, and it kind of saved the game at the time.

“Now it’s back to its very best, it’s right up there, I don’t think there’s anything better.”

Darren claimed The Ashes is “similar” to golf’s Ryder Cup, but with its own “unique” vibe.

And he reckons England, captained by Ben Stokes, could pick up the trophy this year.

He says: “I can’t bring myself to predict an Aussie win but it’ll be close.

“Both sides will win Test matches, I’m certain of that.

“You can throw all the talk around that you want — and they can do all the gags in the Aussie papers at our expense — but it’s what happens on the pitch that will settle it in the end.”

SLEDGE TOP XI

1. Mark Waugh v James Ormond

England’s James Ormond comes out to bat.

Mark Waugh (brother of Test legend Steve) says: “What are you doing out here? You’re too s**** to play for England.”

Ormond replies: “Maybe so, but at least I’m the best player in my family.”

2. Shane Warne v Paul Collingwood

After winning the 2005 Ashes, all England’s players were awarded the MBE.

This included Paul Collingwood, who’d only played once and scored seven and ten.

In the 2006-07 series, Warne says to him: “You got an MBE, right? For scoring seven at the Oval? That’s embarrassing.”

3. Merv Hughes v Graham Gooch

Getting the better of England batsman Gooch, Aussie bowler Hughes says: “Would you like me to bowl a piano and see if you can play that?”

4. Merv Hughes v Robin Smith

Hughes is bowling deliveries that Smith can’t hit.

He tells him: “If you turn the bat over you’ll get the instructions, mate.”

5. Phil Tufnell v Aussie fans

Fielding on the boundary, future Question of Sport captain Tufnell is reportedly told: “Oi, Tufnell. Lend us your brain, we’re building an idiot!”

6. Glenn McGrath v Michael Atherton

McGrath says: “Athers, it would help if you got rid of the s*** at the end of your bat.”

So Atherton looks at the bottom of his bat. And McGrath says: “No, mate, at the other end.”

7. Craig McDermott v Phil Tufnell

After getting bowled by Tufnell, McDermott says: “You’ve got to bat on this in a minute, Tuffers. Hospital food suit you?”

8. Michael Atherton v Ian Healy

Healy at Sydney Test: “You’re a f***ing cheat.”

Atherton: “When in Rome, dear boy.”

9. Allan Border v Robin Smith

After Smith asks for a drink during the 1989 Trent Bridge Test, Border says: “What do you think this is, a f***ing tea party? No, you can’t have a glass of water, you can wait like the rest of us.”

10. Michael Vaughan v Ricky Ponting

When England’s Vaughan is welcomed to the crease with some sledging from Ponting, he replies: “Get back to the slips, Ponting. Who do you think you are, Steve Waugh?”

11. Merv Hughes v Robin Smith Part Two

Merv Hughes gets in the first dig to Smith.

Hughes: “You can’t bat.”

Smith hits Hughes for four.

Smith: “Hey Merv, we make a fine pair.

“I can’t bat and you can’t bowl.”