So it stands to reason that when the Australian cricket team takes to the field, it is the winning that counts and not the taking part.

Bradman, the definitive icon of Australian cricket

Former Test fast bowler Geoff Lawson tells Story of Cricket that sport is embedded into Australian culture.

"If there's one thing that represents Australia, it is sport," Lawson tells the programme.

"We're stuck down at the bottom end of the planet - which we like a lot - and sport represents what we are."

Cricket has come a long way in Australia since the country's first settlers hit a few balls upon their arrival back in 1788.

A match between two army regiments in 1806 attracted 2,000 spectators to a ground near Sydney.

In 1877, Dave Gregory became the first captain of Australia when England visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first ever Test match.

STORY OF CRICKET Former Australia Test captain Ian Chappell narrates on BBC World Service The programme is the second of a six-part series detailing the history of the game around the globe Former Test cricketers Barry Richards, Michael Holding and Ravi Shastri present subsequent programmes

The match started an epic rivalry between the two nations, who have competed for the Ashes ever since an urn containing the remnants of a burned bail was presented to England in 1882.

It is the dream of every aspiring young cricketer in Australia to one day play against, and beat, England.

"It is wonderful, it's been going for so long," says Bill Brown, a member of Australia's 1948 team dubbed 'The Invincibles'.

"We admire England and we've made some great friends, but when you get on the field there is no friendship there."

There is no bigger icon in Australian cricket than Sir Donald Bradman, the batsman and captain who was a hero to a nation in the 1930s and '40s.

Bradman was involved in one of the most infamous episodes of Australian cricket history, the 1932-33 'Bodyline' series.

BROADCAST TIMES Part 2: 15/1/03 - 17/1/03 All times GMT Aus and NZ : Thurs 2106, Fri 0306, 0706, 1606 East Asia: Fri 0206, 0706, 1306, 1906 South Asia: Thurs 2206, Fri 0506, 0906, 1406 East Africa: Fri 0706, 1406, Sat 0006 West Africa: Fri 0906, 1646, Sat 0006 Middle East: Fri 0806, 1306, 1706, Sat 0106 Europe: Fri 0906, 1306, 1906, Sat 0106 Americas: Fri 1406, 2006, Sat 0106, 0606

England captain Douglas Jardine devised a cunning and brutal strategy to counter Bradman's brilliance, instructing his pace attack, led by Harold Larwood, to aim short-pitched bowling at the body with close-in fielders set on the leg side.

England regained the Ashes and Bradman averaged just 56, but the tactic was condemned, serving to heighten the rivalry further.

"Obviously it was going to be successful against me, it was going to be against others as well," Bradman said before his death in 2001.

"Maybe they didn't intend it to go as far as they did, because it got a little out of control."

Fast forward to 1977, and the game was split in two when Aussie businessman Kerry Packer started the breakaway World Series Cricket.

It was the culmination of years of disquiet among Australian cricketers, who had felt the game's administrators were ripping them off.

We are really lucky that we've had so many great experiences together Steve Waugh

Packer offered big pay packets, and more than 50 of the world's best players signed up.

Ian Chappell captained the Australia side, while Tony Greig led the World XI.

Greig says: "The establishment of the game were to blame, and for that reason I had no hesitation in going towards the end of my career to try to make some money to look after my family."

Packer was taken to the high court, but World Series Cricket went ahead and the first game in December 1977 at the MCG was broadcast by his Channel 9 television station.

The players involved are regarded as pioneers now, but back then they were derided as antagonists and treated as outcasts.

Robbed of the game's stars and faced with dwindling crowds at official Test matches, the Australian Cricket Board was forced to the bargaining table.

Packer was awarded the right to televise international cricket, which he retains to this very day. Packer revolutionised cricket, which would never be the same again.

The history of Australian cricket has taken the country to the present day, where it rules the roost as the best Test and one-day team.

Hadlee was a marvel for New Zealand cricket during his career

Numerous records have fallen their way - as well as the last two World Cups - while the team has been blessed with stars like Steve and Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath.

New Zealanders are no less obsessed by cricket.

Within two years of the first settlers arriving in New Zealand in 1840, cricket was being played in Auckland and Wellington.

The Kiwis were granted Test status in 1930, but it took them almost 40 years to win their first series.

No major prizes have come the way of New Zealand, but they are competitive and enjoyed their best days in the 1980s thanks in no small part to Sir Richard Hadlee.

Former team-mate and current New Zealand coach John Bracewell says of Hadlee: "His running style, power and athleticism was very good.

"He hit the ball like nothing else and could catch, too."