The Ashes Urn: History, Origins, and What the Trophy Is
The story behind the famous Ashes urn — what it contains, who made it, why cricket's most famous trophy is so small, and how the Ashes rivalry began in 1882.
The Ashes urn is one of cricket's most curious artefacts — tiny, fragile, and never actually presented to the winning team as a trophy. Yet it has become the symbolic centre of the oldest rivalry in Test cricket.
The Obituary That Started It All
On 29 August 1882, Australia defeated England at The Oval by 7 runs — England's first home Test defeat. The Sporting Times published a mock obituary on 2 September 1882: '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.' The phrase took hold. When England toured Australia that winter, fans joked the team had gone to 'recover the Ashes.'
The Urn: A Gift from Melbourne Ladies
England won the 1882–83 series 2-1. After the series victory, English captain Ivo Bligh was presented with a small terracotta urn, reportedly filled with the ashes of a burnt cricket bail. The gift was made by a group of Melbourne women, possibly including Florence Morphy, whom Bligh later married. The urn was never an official trophy — it was a personal gift to Bligh.
What's Inside the Urn?
Various accounts suggest the urn contains the ashes of a burnt bail, a cricket ball, or a lady's veil. Bligh himself gave different accounts at different times. Scientific analysis conducted in 1998 suggested the urn does contain organic material consistent with burnt plant matter, but the exact contents remain part of cricket folklore. The urn is approximately 10 centimetres tall — small enough to fit in a jacket pocket.
A Permanent Home at Lord's
When Ivo Bligh died in 1927, his widow Lady Darnley donated the urn to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It has lived at Lord's Cricket Ground ever since, in the MCC Museum. It is not presented to the winning Ashes team — instead, the winning side receives a Waterford Crystal replica as the actual trophy. The urn only travels to Australia when special permission is granted, which has happened twice: for the 2006–07 series and briefly on other occasions.
The Ashes Through History
The series has been contested 73 times (through 2024). Australia have held the Ashes more often historically, but England have experienced some of the greatest series comebacks, including 2005 (2-1 after 16 years of Australian dominance) and 2010-11 (3-1 in Australia). The 2023 Ashes series ended 2-2, meaning Australia retained the urn they had held since winning in 2021-22.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the Ashes urn?
The exact contents are disputed. Most accounts say the ashes of a cricket bail, burned by Melbourne ladies as a gift for England captain Ivo Bligh after the 1882-83 series win. Scientific analysis found organic material consistent with burnt plant matter.
Why is the Ashes series called 'The Ashes'?
The name came from a mock obituary in The Sporting Times after Australia's first home Test victory over England at The Oval in 1882, which spoke of 'the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.'
Who keeps the Ashes urn?
The original urn is permanently housed at the MCC Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground. It was donated by Ivo Bligh's widow in 1927 and has remained at Lord's ever since.
Has Australia won more Ashes series than England?
Yes. Australia have won more Ashes series historically, but England had periods of dominance — notably 1950s and 2000s–2010s. The all-time record shows Australia winning roughly 34 series to England's 33 with 6 drawn.