The Ashes: History of the Urn and Why England vs Australia Defines Test Cricket
The Ashes is the oldest recurring rivalry in Test cricket — England vs Australia for a small terracotta urn (supposedly containing the ashes of a burned cricket bail). The series dates to 1882 when England lost at The Oval and the Sporting Times published a mock obituary for English cricket. The series is now a 5-Test biennial competition, alternating between England and Australia every 2 years.
The Ashes origin: England lost to Australia at The Oval in August 1882 — their first home Test defeat to Australia. The Sporting Times published a mock obituary: 'In affectionate remembrance of English cricket, which died at The Oval on 29th August 1882... The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.' When Ivo Bligh led England to Australia in 1882-83 and won the series, Australian women presented him with an urn (containing the ashes of a bail, or in some accounts the veil of a cricket ball). The urn has been kept at Lord's Cricket Ground since 1927 and never physically travels with the winning team — the series is played for the symbolic urn, not the object itself.
Series Format
The Ashes series format: 5 Test matches, alternating between England (hosts) and Australia (hosts) every 2 years. The Ashes result: the country with the most Test match wins retains or wins the Ashes. If the series is drawn 2-2 (with 1 draw), the defending holder retains the Ashes. If the defending holder is England, they retain even if drawn; if Australia, similarly. England have held the Ashes more times historically, though Australia's record since 1989 (winning 8 of 9 series between 1989-2019) has given them the advantage in recent decades. England's 2005 Ashes win (2-1 under Michael Vaughan) was considered one of sport's great narrative reversals after 18 years of Australian dominance.
Dominant Eras
Dominant eras in Ashes history: Australia dominated 1989-2019 (winning 8 of 9 series); England dominated 1977-1989 (winning 6 of 7 series under Botham, Willis, and Gooch). The longest Australian dominance: 16-year gap between England Ashes wins (1989-2005), during which Australia used the Ashes series to host consecutive generations of their greatest players — Mark Taylor, then Steve Waugh, then Ricky Ponting as captain. The most dramatic individual Ashes performances: Ian Botham's 1981 all-round (averaging 36 with the bat and taking 34 wickets — but specifically his match-winning 149* at Headingley when England followed on and won); Warne's 708 Test wickets (many in Ashes series); and Don Bradman's 974 runs in the 1930 Ashes series (still the highest Ashes series total by any batsman).
Cultural Significance
Ashes cultural significance: the Ashes is unique among cricket rivalries for its impact on both English and Australian national identity. In England, Ashes series generate mainstream media coverage beyond sport — TV audiences for Ashes Tests are significantly higher than other cricket. The 2005 Ashes victory generated a victory parade through London (unique for a Test cricket series). In Australia, the Ashes is the preeminent home sports series — MCG and SCG Ashes Tests are the highest-attended regular cricket fixtures in global cricket. The 2023-24 Ashes in England (won by Australia 2-2, retaining the Ashes after drawing) drew peak TV audiences of 5+ million in England — extraordinary for a format with no commercial interest in 5-day matches for the casual viewer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ashes in cricket?
The Ashes is the biennial Test cricket series between England and Australia — the oldest and most prestigious bilateral rivalry in the sport. The name derives from a mock obituary published in the Sporting Times after England's first home Test defeat to Australia in 1882, which 'lamented' the death of English cricket and said the ashes would be taken to Australia. The series is symbolically played for a small terracotta urn (kept permanently at Lord's Cricket Ground in London), with the winner described as 'regaining' or 'retaining' the Ashes. The series consists of 5 Test matches; the holder retains the Ashes if the series is drawn.
How many Ashes series has Australia won vs England?
As of 2024, Australia have won more Ashes series than England in the modern era: between 1989 and 2023, Australia won 8 of 10 series. England's Ashes wins in the modern era: 2005 (2-1), 2009 (2-1), 2010-11 (3-1 in Australia — England's first away Ashes win since 1987), 2013 (3-0). Overall historical count: England have won 32 Ashes series; Australia 34; 7 series were drawn (with the holder retaining). However, Australia's recent dominance (winning the 2013-14 series 5-0, the 2017-18 series 4-0, and the 2023 series 2-2 but retaining) means the current balance of power favours Australia.
Where is the Ashes urn kept?
The Ashes urn is kept permanently at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. The urn does not travel with the winning team — the actual object stays at Lord's regardless of who won the most recent series. Instead, replicas of the urn are awarded to the series winners. The original urn was presented to Ivo Bligh (England captain) in 1882-83 after England won their series in Australia; Bligh's family donated it to the MCC in 1927. The urn is approximately 10-15cm tall and is one of cricket's most recognizable and irreplaceable objects.