Ashes series

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The Ashes series is a regular international cricket contest between England and Australia, so named after the trophy, which is a small wooden urn, said to contain the burnt bails from an 1882 game between the countries at The Oval. The custom arose when, after this game, The Sporting Times printed the following "obituary" to English cricket:

"In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval on 29th AUGUST, 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances R.I.P.

N.B. - The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."

The English media played up the subsequent tour to Australia in 1882/83 as a quest to "regain the Ashes". On this tour, the English captain Hon. Ivo Bligh was presented with a small wooden urn containing some ashes. The most common story is that these were the ashes of a burnt bail taken from one of the games played on the tour. However, evidence raised in 1982 suggests that the ashes are those of a ball and the urn was presented to Bligh before the series began. Whatever the origin, Bligh kept the urn and his widow donated it to the Marylebone Cricket Club after his death in 1927.

Despite the teams playing for the right to hold the Ashes trophy, the Ashes urn itself is never physically awarded to Australia, but is kept permanently in the Cricket Museum at Lords. It has been to Australia only once, in 1988 for a museum tour as part of Australia's Bicentennial celebrations. In the 1990s, given Australia's long dominance of the series the idea was mooted of the victorious team being awarded the trophy. Instead the MCC commissioned a Waterford crystal replica, which is now awarded to the winning team.

The Ashes is generally regarded as the greatest cricketing competition, at least by inhabitants of the countries involved. Notable Ashes series took place in 1932/33 (the Bodyline tour), 1948 (Bradman's invincible Australian side) and 1981 (in which an England team spearheaded by Ian Botham won a thrilling series).