The Ashes Explained — Cricket's Most Famous Test Series
A complete guide to The Ashes: the history of the urn, how The Ashes series works, England vs Australia records, and the most famous moments in Ashes history.
The Ashes is the Test cricket series played between England and Australia — the oldest, most famous, and most hotly contested rivalry in the sport. First played in 1882, the series takes its name from a satirical obituary published after England's first defeat to Australia on English soil: 'The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. An actual urn — said to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail — has been held at Lord's since 1882.
How The Ashes Works
The Ashes is contested in five-Test series, played alternately in England (English summer, June–September) and Australia (Australian summer, November–January). The team that wins the series wins the Ashes. If the series is drawn (2.5 matches won each, or fewer matches played in a shortened series), the team currently holding the Ashes retains them. England have historically won the most Ashes series overall, but Australia have dominated in modern history.
The Most Famous Ashes Moments
- Headingley 1981 ('Botham's Ashes') — England followed on and won by 18 runs; Ian Botham's 149 not out and Bob Willis's 8/43 were among the greatest individual performances in Ashes history
- Edgbaston 2005 — England's 2-run victory was the closest Ashes Test ever; one of the greatest cricket matches played
- Gabba 2021 — England broke Australia's 33-year unbeaten Gabba run; Zak Crawley's century set up a historic win
- Headingley 2023 — Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad engineered a 'Bazball' win; Stokes hit the winning run off the penultimate ball
- Don Bradman's farewell 1948 — needing just 4 runs to finish with a career average of 100, Bradman was bowled for a duck, ending at 99.94
The Ashes Records
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Most Ashes runs | Don Bradman (AUS) — 5,028 runs, av. 89.78 |
| Most Ashes wickets | Shane Warne (AUS) — 195 wickets at 23.25 |
| Highest Ashes team total | 903/7 declared (England, The Oval 1938) |
| Lowest Ashes team total | 36 all out (Australia, Edgbaston 1902) |
| Most Ashes series wins | England — 32 series; Australia — 32 series (historical) |
The Urn
The actual Ashes urn is a tiny terracotta container measuring just 10cm tall. It is permanently displayed at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, and is never actually taken to Australia or presented to the winning captain — a replica is typically used for trophy ceremonies. The genuine urn is too fragile to travel.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Ashes series called The Ashes?
The name comes from a satirical obituary in The Sporting Times after Australia beat England for the first time on English soil in 1882. The mock obituary announced that 'English cricket' had died and 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. An actual small urn was later presented to England captain Ivo Bligh in 1882–83, said to contain the ashes of a cricket bail. The urn became the symbolic trophy.
How often is The Ashes played?
The Ashes is played approximately every two years, alternating between England and Australia. England host an Ashes series every four years; Australia host one every four years. The scheduling means players have an Ashes series opportunity every two years if they stay in the national team.
Who holds The Ashes currently?
As of 2024, Australia hold The Ashes following their 2023 series in England. The 2023 series ended 2–2 — a draw in which Australia retained the Ashes they had won in Australia in 2021–22.