The Ashes Urn Explained: What It Is, Where It Lives, and Why a Tiny Pot Controls Cricket History
The physical Ashes urn (approximately 15cm tall, made in 1882 or 1883) is permanently housed at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) museum at Lord's in London — the winning team does not take it home. What the urn contains (likely a burned bail, possibly ball ashes or something else), the Sporting Times obituary that started it all, and why the actual competitive Ashes trophy is a separate replica.
The Ashes urn is one of sport's most famous objects — a small terracotta urn approximately 15cm (6 inches) tall that symbolises the England-Australia Test cricket rivalry. Unlike most sports trophies (where the winning team takes the physical object home), the Ashes urn is permanently housed at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The winning country of an Ashes series receives a replica urn and bragging rights — not the original. The urn has been at Lord's since 1927, when it was donated by Ivo Bligh's widow (Florence Morphy, later Lady Darnley).
Origin: The 1882 Obituary and the Urn
How the Ashes concept and the urn originated: (1) The 1882 Test match: England vs Australia, The Oval, London, August 28-29, 1882. Australia won by 7 runs — the first Australian Test win on English soil. Fred Spofforth (the Demon Bowler) took 14 wickets across the match. England needed 85 to win and were bowled out for 77; (2) The Sporting Times obituary (September 2, 1882): the day after the defeat, the Sporting Times published a mock obituary: 'In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at The Oval on 29th August 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. N.B. — The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.' The piece was written humorously — not intended as a serious proposition. But it caught on; (3) England toured Australia (1882-83): England's touring team (captained by Ivo Bligh) was described in the press as going to 'regain the Ashes.' After England won the series (they won 2 of 3 or 3 of 3 depending on how you count — the exact result is historically debated), a group of Australian women (Melbourne socialites) presented Ivo Bligh with a small terracotta urn. The urn reportedly contained burned ashes of a bail (or possibly a ball) used in the Ashes match — symbolising the 'ashes of English cricket' that England had won back; (4) The urn's contents: the exact contents of the urn have been debated by historians. Common accounts say burned bail ashes. Some suggest burned ball leather. Some accounts suggest a lady's veil was burned. The MCC (owners of the urn) tested the urn in 1998 and found that it contained material consistent with organic matter — consistent with a bail or ball, but not definitively identified.
The Urn at Lord's and the Competitive Trophy
The Ashes trophy arrangements: (1) The original urn at Lord's: the urn has been permanently housed in the MCC Museum at Lord's since 1927. It is fragile (the lid has been repaired after being cracked). The urn is approximately 15cm tall — visitors are often surprised by how small it is given its symbolic importance; (2) The Waterford Crystal trophy: since 1998, the winning team of each Ashes series receives the Ashes Trophy — a larger, purpose-built Waterford Crystal trophy (a replica of the original urn, made of crystal rather than terracotta). This is the physical object the players hold up in celebration photos after winning the series. The crystal trophy travels between England and Australia with the winning team; (3) Why the original stays at Lord's: the MCC considers itself the custodian of cricket law and history. The original urn was donated to the MCC (not to Cricket Australia or the ECB) by Ivo Bligh's widow in 1927. It is treated as a museum artifact rather than a competitive prize; (4) Australia's campaign for the urn: on multiple occasions, Australia (particularly during their dominant era under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting) suggested that the winning team should be allowed to take the original urn home. The MCC has consistently declined — the urn stays at Lord's.
The Ashes: Format and Records
Ashes series structure and records: (1) Format: typically 5 Tests, played alternately in England (odd years: 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2023) and Australia (even years: 2006-07, 2010-11, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22). The holder retains the Ashes on a 2-2 draw; (2) Records: total Ashes series played — approximately 74 series (1877-2023). Australia lead overall series wins; England have won more recently; (3) Biggest winning margins: England won 5-0 in the 2013-14 Ashes... wait — that was Australia winning 5-0 in Australia (2013-14) and England winning 4-0 in Australia in 1978-79 (Packer WSC era). Australia's biggest Ashes series wins: 5-0 (2006-07, 2013-14). England's biggest: 5-0 (1920-21 — actually Australia won 5-0 that series...). Correct: England's 3-0 wins in 1985, 1997, 2013 home series; (4) Most Ashes wickets: Shane Warne — 195 wickets in Ashes Tests at 23.25; (5) Most Ashes runs: Don Bradman — 5,028 Ashes runs at 89.78 (89.78! against England specifically); Jack Hobbs — 3,636 Ashes runs is the England record; (6) The tightest series: the 2005 Ashes (England win, 2-1) is widely considered the greatest Ashes series — including the Edgbaston Test that England won by 2 runs.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Ashes urn kept?
The original Ashes urn is permanently housed in the MCC Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. It has been at Lord's since 1927, when it was donated by Ivo Bligh's widow (Florence Morphy, Lady Darnley). The urn is approximately 15cm tall and is fragile — it does not leave Lord's for presentation to the winning team. Instead, winning teams receive a larger Waterford Crystal replica urn (introduced 1998) that travels between England and Australia. The original urn contains organic material consistent with burned bail or ball ashes — though the exact contents have never been definitively confirmed.
Why are they called the Ashes?
The name 'the Ashes' comes from a mock obituary published in the Sporting Times on September 2, 1882, after Australia beat England at The Oval. The obituary jokingly wrote that 'English cricket' had died and 'the ashes will be taken to Australia.' When England toured Australia the following winter (1882-83) to 'regain the Ashes,' Melbourne women presented England captain Ivo Bligh with a small terracotta urn containing the burned ashes of a bail (or ball). This urn became the symbolic object of the England-Australia Test cricket rivalry, which has been called 'the Ashes' ever since.
Who has won the most Ashes series?
Australia lead the overall Ashes series count — they have won more series than England across the roughly 74 Ashes series (1877-2023). Australia had the most dominant recent period (1989-2003, winning 8 consecutive Ashes series) before England's 2005 victory (their first Ashes win since 1987). Since 2005, the series have been more evenly contested: England won 2005, 2009, 2010-11 (in Australia), 2013. Australia won 2006-07, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22. The 2023 Ashes (England) drew 2-2, with Australia retaining the Ashes as holder.