The Ashes: Cricket's Greatest Series — A Complete History
The Ashes between England and Australia is cricket's most celebrated series. From 1882's mock obituary that gave it its name to modern-day five-match epics, the Ashes defines Test cricket's heritage.
The 1882 Origin
The Ashes began in 1882 when Australia defeated England at The Oval — the first Test Australia won on English soil. The defeat was so shocking that a satirical obituary in The Sporting Times mourned 'the death of English cricket', saying 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. When England toured Australia the following winter, newspapers said they had gone to 'recover the ashes'. The term became cricket's most enduring tradition.
The Actual Urn
The physical Ashes urn — a tiny terracotta container holding what is thought to be the ashes of a cricket bail — was presented to English captain Ivo Bligh during the 1882-83 tour by Australian women who reportedly burned a ball or bail and placed the ashes inside. The urn is only 10 centimetres tall and lives permanently at Lord's Cricket Museum. The winning team in each Ashes series receives a replica urn; the original never changes hands.
The Greatest Series
The 1981 Ashes — 'Botham's Ashes' — is the most celebrated. England followed on at Headingley, seemed certain to lose, then Ian Botham scored 149* and Bob Willis took 8/43 to win by 18 runs. England went on to win the series 3-1. The 2005 Ashes — the first series England had won since 1987 — was even more gripping: five Tests, three different results in four, with the deciding Test at The Oval drawn after England batted throughout the last day.
Modern Era
Australia dominated the Ashes from 1989 to 2005, winning seven consecutive series. England won in 2005, 2009, 2010-11 (in Australia), 2013, 2015, 2023. Australia won 2006-07, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2019, 2021-22. The series is played every two years alternately in England and Australia. It remains the most attended and most-watched bilateral Test series in cricket, drawing full houses across all five Tests at grounds in both countries.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Ashes called the Ashes?
The Ashes gets its name from a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times in August 1882 after Australia beat England at The Oval. The obituary mourned 'the death of English cricket' and said 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. That winter, England toured Australia to 'recover the ashes'. An Australian woman then burned a bail and presented the ashes in a tiny urn to English captain Ivo Bligh — the urn that still lives at Lord's.
Who has won more Ashes series — England or Australia?
Australia has won more Ashes series than England historically. Including all series from 1877 through 2023, Australia have won the majority of series and have been the dominant side for most of the past century. England's most sustained period of dominance was 1954-1985; Australia dominated from 1989-2006. Recent Ashes series have been more evenly contested with England winning in 2005, 2009, 2010-11 and 2013.