The Ashes Explained: Cricket's Most Historic Series Between England and Australia
What the Ashes is — the 5-Test series between England and Australia played since 1882, the backstory of the urn (reportedly the ashes of a burnt cricket bail), the home-and-away rotation every 2 years, and why it remains cricket's most emotionally significant bilateral series.
The Ashes is the Test cricket series played between England and Australia — five Tests per series, hosted alternately in England and Australia every two years. The name comes from a mock obituary published in The Sporting Times after Australia defeated England at The Oval in 1882 (the first home defeat by Australia on English soil), mourning 'the death of English cricket' and noting the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. An urn (15 cm tall) was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh during the 1882-83 tour of Australia — it became the symbolic trophy of the series. The ICC recognises the Ashes as one of cricket's most prestigious bilateral contests.
The Urn: What Is The Ashes Trophy?
The physical Ashes urn is kept permanently at Lord's Cricket Ground (in the Marylebone Cricket Club Museum) — it does not travel with the winning team. A replica urn is awarded to the series winner. The urn is believed to contain the ashes of a cricket ball (or bail — accounts differ) burnt after the 1882-83 tour of Australia; it was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women as a humorous symbol of the 'ashes' referenced in the mock obituary. Its exact contents have never been scientifically confirmed. The Ashes Urn is frequently listed among cricket's most recognised symbols and is reproduced on merchandise, logos, and publications by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
5-Test Format and Home-Away Rotation
The Ashes consists of five Test matches — the standard bilateral Test series format (most bilateral series are 2 or 3 Tests). Five Tests allows each series to be decided comprehensively: a team winning 3-0 cannot be caught (the series is decided with 2 matches remaining), while a 2-1 lead with 2 to play means the trailing team can equalise and potentially win. The series rotates between England (hosted every 4 years, in English summer) and Australia (hosted every 4 years, in Australian summer — December to January). The 2019 series was in England; the 2021-22 series was in Australia; the 2023 series was in England; the 2025-26 series was in Australia (Australia won 4-1). The winning team 'holds' the Ashes until the next series; a draw retains the Ashes with whichever team holds them.
Why the Ashes Matters
The Ashes matters emotionally beyond its ICC ranking points because of the historical rivalry and the particular cultural weight each nation attaches to it. England and Australia are cricket's two founding nations — the sport itself emerged in England and spread to Australia via colonial settlement; Australia's cricket supremacy (they have won more Ashes series than England over the full historical record) has a persistent psychological significance in both countries that exceeds most bilateral sporting rivalries in terms of media coverage and public attention. Australia's Ashes series consistently sells out grounds; England's Ashes tours of Australia generate the largest-scale touring supporter followings of any cricket series. The ICC Future Tours Programme guarantees Ashes series occur regularly regardless of broader bilateral scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ashes in cricket?
The 5-Test series between England and Australia, played alternately in England and Australia every two years. Named after a 1882 mock obituary mourning 'the death of English cricket' — a small urn (the Ashes trophy, kept at Lord's) symbolises the series. The winning team 'holds the Ashes'; a drawn series leaves the Ashes with whichever team already held them.
How often is the Ashes played?
Every 2 years — alternating between England (English summer, June–September) and Australia (Australian summer, November–January). So England hosts one Ashes series every 4 years; Australia hosts one series every 4 years. Five matches per series.
Who has won the most Ashes series?
Australia — they have won more Ashes series than England over the full historical record since 1882. England's periods of dominance (1980s, early 2000s under Nasser Hussain and Flintoff, 2010-11) have been followed by Australian dominance. The series is historically competitive enough that both nations have won multiple consecutive series in their respective eras.