The Ashes is making headlines at the World Matchplay Darts after Damon Heta paid tribute to Pat Cummins & Co. in Blackpool.
The Heat has his own gauntlet ahead after reaching the quarter-finals at Winter Gardens, where he'll face Luke Humphries on Friday in the hopes of extending his career-best run in the competition. But Heta still had time to honour Australia's cricket stars as part of his recent walk-on.
Prior to his first-round win over Northern Ireland's Josh Rock, Heta made his way to the oche by taunting the crowd with an Ashes-themed entrance. The 35-year-old originally planned to do his best Shane Warne impersonation as Australia led England 2-1 in the summer series but decided to ditch the look.
"So the other day after I've won, I've tried to get something close to the Shane Warne wig," said Heta when asked about his preparation while Australia face off against England. "Uuhhh, didn't quite happen!
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"So I've had this [worse] wig, and I've got my missus to cut it into shape. I put it on in the practice room and I've gone, 'Am I Shane Warne or not? Nah, that's not gonna look good.' So I've scrapped it, I scrapped it."
Heta went on to say the wig "would have been fun," but donning Australia's iconic Baggy Green cap was enough of a tribute to the national team while they're competing this summer.
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No player in Ashes history has taken more wickets than Aussie icon Warne, who died unexpectedly while in Thailand last year. The cricket and wider sports world mourned the loss of a widely adored figure, who won The Ashes on seven occasions during his illustrious career.
England and Australia are currently midway through the fourth Test of this year's series at Old Trafford, where the hosts must win to stay in with a chance of winning the urn.
Heta clinched a decisive 10-5 win over Rock before demolishing Brendan Dolan – who knocked titleholder Michael van Gerwen out in the first round – 11-1 in the last 16. Sixth seed Humphries will represent a big step up in competition, however, not to mention the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw.
'Cool Hand Luke' won't be short on inspiration to beat The Heat if he's invested in cricket at all, with an early chance for England to get one over on Australia opposition in this summer's struggle between the two rivals.
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