David Gower’s high jinks came to define the 1990-91 Ashes but his partner in crime is sanguine about its effect on his career
![‘The view was amazing’: John Morris relives his Ashes Tiger Moth escapade | Daniel Harris](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/afb7b133ba12dc3939e92f061416dcb9c8337c1e/0_377_5333_3201/master/5333.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=aba94d0f0ac5a8870c59e5760c668730)
In great sporting events, great events happen peripheral to the great sport, adding phrases to our lexicon and images to our imaginations – consider, for example, the words “Sprinkler Dance”, “53 cans” and “Stuart Broad”. As time passes, these become a code for the initiated, and by remembering them we remember that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s like receiving a big, warm hug.
During the 1990-91 Ashes that role was played by the “Tiger Moth” couplet. But before we get into it, some context.
England had been spanked in 1989, but because they had won the two previous series against Australia the team still felt confident.