Cheeky message on Adam Gilchrist’s T-shirt fires up salty Poms

England fans just cannot get over last year’s Ashes series, judging by the reaction to Adam Gilchrist's cheeky gesture.

Death, taxes and Aussie cricket greats stirring up salty English fans.

Surely they are three certainties in life, after Adam Gilchrist opened up some old wounds with a simple Instagram post and photo on Wednesday.

As cricket fans will recall, of course, Australia headed into last year’s Ashes series in England as holders of the urn following a 4-0 thrashing in the previous series.

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The Aussies have actually held the famous little cup for the past four series, dating back to another 4-0 result in the 2017-18 contest, which also had one draw.

It all meant the English would need to win the series, “win” being the key word here, if they were to regain the Ashes, a feat they failed to achieve in a 2-2 draw.

In a series full of twists, turns and memorable quotes, this from England batter Harry Brook became the comment that would help define the series and cricket between the countries since.

“We were dominating the game last week weren’t we?” Brook said after the fourth Test in Manchester was washed out with England in a dominant position.

Adam Gilchrist with daughter Annie at this year’s Cricket Australia Awards. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

“So if the game had played out, I would like to think we would have won that. So if we can win (the fifth Test), it almost can make it a moral victory.”

Those last two words have become the stuff of meme and gif legend and the current Australian team has had plenty of fun with them at England’s expense.

All-rounder and recent Allan Border Medallist Mitch Marsh was asked by cricket comedy podcast duo The Grade Cricketer late last year how they felt about “losing the Ashes, morally”.

“Yeah, I think any time you lose an Ashes series 5-0, it’s always tough to take,” Marsh quipped.

“Them being the greatest side to ever play Test cricket, 5-0 was probably fair.”

Captain Pat Cummins was also asked about it by the duo.

Harry Brook’s comment has become the stuff of legend. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“It was a thumping, morally,” Cummins said. “Yeah, you can’t come back from it. So yeah, it’s something we’ll work on in the nets, somehow, yeah, take some philosophy books or something.”

Now Gilchrist has taken that to another level, courtesy of a T-shirt from a company called From The Cheap Seats.

The white T-shirt has the words Moral Victory across the chest, with the word “moral” crossed out in red and the “I” in victory replaced by a picture of the Ashes urn.

In his post, Gilchrist has tagged former England captain Michael Vaughan and told him “your T-shirt is on its way”.

The shirt itself is excellent, but the reaction from some of Gilly’s 718,000 followers is even better.

“No one denies Australia deserved to win the Lords Test. Maybe you should get a “saved by the rain” T-shirt instead,” was the first reply from a clearly still salty Insta user, Barry Norris.

“Drew the series and would’ve lost it if rain in Manchester didn’t save you, but sure. Go off,” stated another salty individual, Joe Atherton.

One even dared to bring out the “champ” call in reference to Gilly, one of the sport’s most popular players ever, in very dangerous areas.

“Claiming (losing) draws as victories. A bit desperate champ,” wrote another loser, sorry, we meant user that doesn’t list their real name.

Aussie fans, naturally, felt the need to get involved in the banter too.

“I love it how the English fans’ favourite chat when it comes to cricket always starts sentences with “If”,” was one reply.

“Love the shirt, can we send one to Johnny Bairstow?” asked a second.

We’re fairly confident Australia does still retain the Ashes after last year’s series. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

“Salty england fan,” added a third, while salt shaker emojis were also used in some simple replies.

“Hahaha love it!!! That should be our uniforms for the next Ashes here,” added another.

We still have some wait until the next Ashes series, taking place in Australia beginning in November, 2025.

We’ll leave the last word to another Instagram user, Zack Mirzaali, who took the time to count how many days it had been since day five of the fifth Test in 2023.

For the record we checked and he was correct, down to the exact day.

Still having a total head loss at dropping a 2-0 lead 190 days after the ashes finished,” Mirzaali wrote. “But allegedly were (sic) the “winging poms” brilliant stuff.”