The Ashes: A Complete History of Cricket's Greatest Rivalry
The Ashes is cricket's most celebrated bilateral series, contested between England and Australia since 1882. This guide covers the Ashes' origins, its format and the series' most famous moments.
The Ashes is the most famous bilateral series in cricket — a five-Test contest between England and Australia that has been played since 1882. Its name derives from a mock obituary published in The Sporting Times after Australia defeated England at The Oval in 1882, mourning the death of English cricket and stating that 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. Ivo Bligh's England touring team subsequently vowed to 'regain the ashes', and the trophy — a small urn reportedly containing the ashes of a burnt bail — has been contested ever since.
Ashes Format
The Ashes alternates between England (home series) and Australia every two years, with series in each country played between them. Each Ashes series consists of five Test matches. The team winning more Tests takes or retains the Ashes. If the series is drawn at 2–2, the defending Ashes holders retain it — the away team must win outright to take the urn. England and Australia have historically played ten Ashes Tests in a single year when both home and away series fall in adjacent summers.
Famous Ashes Series
The 1932–33 Bodyline series — in which England's Harold Larwood bowled short-pitched deliveries aimed at the body with a leg-side field to dismiss Don Bradman cheaply — remains the most controversial Ashes series in history, threatening diplomatic relations between England and Australia. Don Bradman's 1948 Invincibles toured England unbeaten. England's 2005 Ashes victory — won 2–1 after a series of narrow finishes — is widely considered the most gripping modern Ashes series. Australia's 5–0 whitewash of England in 2013–14 demonstrated the cyclical nature of the rivalry.
The Ashes' Significance
The Ashes holds a unique place in cricket culture because of the depth of England-Australia rivalry, the history of the contest, and the symbolic weight of the urn. Despite the rise of other bilateral series and the IPL era's shifting priorities, Ashes series still command the highest television audiences of any cricket outside World Cups in both countries. For England and Australian players, winning the Ashes on foreign soil is considered the highest individual achievement in their Test career.
Frequently asked questions
Who has won the most Ashes series?
Australia have won more Ashes series than England across the competition's history. England were dominant in the 1950s and early 1980s; Australia dominated from the mid-1990s to 2005 under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. Since 2010, the series has been more competitive, with both sides winning home series regularly.
How is the Ashes urn related to Florence Morphy?
Florence Morphy — who later married Ivo Bligh — is widely credited with being among the women who gave Bligh the urn containing the 'ashes' after England won the 1882–83 series in Australia. She is the most frequently named donor, though the exact origin of the urn remains partly legendary. The story adds a romantic dimension to the trophy's history.