The Ashes Series: A Complete History
The full history of the Ashes, cricket's most famous rivalry between England and Australia, from 1882 to the present day.
The Ashes is the oldest and most celebrated rivalry in Test cricket, contested between England and Australia. It has been played since 1882 and continues today as a five-Test series held alternately in England and Australia. The rivalry encapsulates everything that makes Test cricket special: individual heroics, epic battles, incredible reversals, and decades of shared sporting history.
Origins of the Ashes (1882)
The Ashes was born from a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times following Australia's stunning victory at The Oval in 1882 — England's first home Test defeat. The notice lamented that 'English cricket is dead' and that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. Shortly after, England captain Ivo Bligh led a tour to Australia to reclaim the title, and the legend was set.
During that 1882–83 tour, Melbourne socialites presented Bligh with a small terracotta urn said to contain the ashes of a burned cricket bail. Whether the urn holds ashes of a bail, ball, or veil remains disputed, but it became the symbolic trophy around which the rivalry is built. The original urn resides permanently at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Early Eras and the Golden Age
The early twentieth century produced some of cricket's greatest players through the Ashes. W.G. Grace, Victor Trumper, Jack Hobbs, and Warwick Armstrong all featured in defining series. Australia dominated for much of this period, but England countered with periods of excellence. The 1902 series, featuring some of the most dramatic finishes in the rivalry's history, is often cited as one of cricket's greatest.
Bradman and the Bodyline Series (1930s)
Don Bradman's extraordinary batting average of 99.94 made him the defining figure of the 1930s Ashes. England's controversial 'Bodyline' tactic in 1932–33, devised by Douglas Jardine and bowled by Harold Larwood, was specifically designed to curtail Bradman by targeting his body with fast, short-pitched deliveries. The series caused a diplomatic incident between England and Australia and reshaped the laws of the game.
Modern Era: Parity and Fluctuation
England's 2005 Ashes victory, after 16 years of Australian dominance, was one of cricket's greatest moments. The series drew record television audiences in England and inspired a generation of players and fans. Australia won back the urn in 2006–07 with a 5-0 sweep, but England won again in 2009, 2010–11, and 2013 before Australia reclaimed dominance later in the decade. The 2023 series in England ended 2-2, illustrating how closely matched the sides have become.
Frequently asked questions
Who holds the original Ashes urn?
The original small terracotta urn is held permanently at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The winners of the Ashes series receive a replica trophy rather than the original urn.
How many times has Australia won the Ashes?
As of 2026, Australia have won the Ashes significantly more times than England, with over 34 series victories compared to England's approximately 32, with several series drawn. Australia held the urn for most of the 1990s and 2000s.