The Ashes
The Ashes is the symbol of international cricket matches played between England and Australia. The Ashes were supposedly what remained of English cricket after the Australians had beaten them in the first test match played in England.
 The Ashes urn, made of terracotta and about 10.5
cm (4") tall, is reputed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail. | |
| Countries |  Australia England |
|---|---|
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Format | Test cricket |
| First Edition | 1882–83 (Australia) |
| Latest Edition | 2023 (England) |
| Next Edition | 2025–26 (Australia) |
| Tournament format | 5-match series |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Current trophy holder | Australia (Series drawn) (2023) |
| Most successful | Australia (34 series wins, six retentions) |
| Most runs |  Donald Bradman (5,028) |
| Most wickets | Shane Warne (195) |
 2023 Ashes series | |
The name comes from a small pot (known as an "urn") of ashes, which was made and presented to the England captain in 1882. It was based on a joke printed in The Sporting Times, an English newspaper. Someone placed an advertisement in the pages of the paper, describing how English cricket had died and its body had been cremated.
The Ashes Media
Fred Spofforth, "The Demon Bowler", was instrumental in Australia's 1882 victory over England with 14 wickets for 90.
The death notice that appeared in The Sporting Times
The earliest published photo of the Ashes urn, from The Illustrated London News, 1921
Rupertswood outside Melbourne, where the urn was presented to Bligh
The full version of the song from the Melbourne Punch, the fourth verse of which is pasted onto the urn
Caricature of Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley.
Herbert Sutcliffe sweeps Arthur Mailey during the first Ashes Test in Sydney, 1924.
Bill Woodfull evades a ball from Harold Larwood with Bodyline field settings.
Peter May driving Bill Johnston on his way to a century at Sydney.
