The Ashes
The Ashes is series of international cricket matches played between England and Australia. The series began in 1882, when Australia won its first Test match in England. Newspapers at the time joked that this was a symbol of the death of English cricket, saying that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.[1] England's cricket captain said before England's next match against Australia that he would "regain those ashes".
 The Ashes urn, made of terracotta and about 10.5
cm (4") tall, is said 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) |
| File:Cricket current event.svg 2023 Ashes series | |
The two teams usually play a series of five matches once every two years. There have been 73 of these series. Australia has won 34 of them and England has won 32, with the others being draws.[2]
The trophy
A small urn was given to England's captain, Ivo Bligh, after England won the 1882–83 Ashes series.[3] The urn was supposed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, and was described as "the ashes of Australian cricket".[4] An urn (possibly the same one) was given to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) by Bligh's widow after he died, and this urn is used (unofficially) as the trophy that the teams try to win. A replica of the urn is usually given to the winning team after each series, but the original urn stays in the MCC's museum.
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
England v. Australia Cricket Match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 27 January 1883
The earliest published photo of the Ashes urn, from The Illustrated London News, 1921
Rupertswood near Melbourne, where the urn was presented to the Hon. Ivo 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.
Related pages
±
- ↑ The Ashes – Our History | Lord’s. www.lords.org. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- ↑ The Ashes Trophy team series results | ESPNcricinfo (in en). ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- ↑ "SUMMARY OF EVENTS.". Illustrated Australian News: 18. 1884-02-20. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63185850. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
- ↑ "CRICKET.". Mercury: 8. 1908-06-04. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12673335. Retrieved 2025-08-26.