The history of the Ashes: What's in the urn? What is written on the side? When were the Ashes first played?
Published 20/11/2025 at 16:43 GMT
This winter will see the 74th staging of the Ashes as England and Australia face off, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. But what exactly is the history of the Ashes? What is in the Ashes urn? And is it used as a trophy at the end of the series? We answer everything you need to know as England and Australia meet again to contest the famous cricket series.
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"In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29 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."
And so, 143 years ago, in a mock obituary in The Sporting Times, the Ashes were born.
This winter, the 74th NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series between England and Australia will be played, with every ball live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
But what is the history of the Ashes? What is in the Ashes urn? And what is written on the urn? We explain all.
The history of the Ashes
England and Australia played their first Test match against each other in 1877.
The legend of the Ashes started five years later when Australia toured England and won the only Test by eight runs.
The result was written up mockingly as an obituary in The Sporting Times by Reginald Shirley Brooks, who finished with the line: "The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."
As well as the ‘death’ of English cricket, Brooks' words were viewed as a reference to the ongoing debate about the legalisation of cremation in Britain.
The obituary was picked up on by England captain Ivo Bligh, who said he would fight to regain the Ashes on the following tour of Australia.
At this time it is not believed there were any physical ‘ashes’ or an urn. However, ahead of England’s tour of Australia, an urn was presented to Bligh after a social cricket match in Melbourne on Christmas Eve 1882.
There is some debate over what is actually inside the urn.
It is most commonly thought that a bail used in the match was burned and placed in the small terracotta urn, although Bligh's daughter-in-law has said the urn actually contained the burnt remains of her mother-in-law's veil (it has also been reported that a burned stump or a ball cover could have been used).
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England's Alastair Cook kisses a replica urn in 2013
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England went on to win the three-match series 2-1 and hence reclaimed the Ashes.
The urn that returned home with Bligh had two pieces of paper pasted to it.
One says ‘The Ashes’ and the other is a verse from a song published in Melbourne Punch magazine in February 1883 reading:
When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;
Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;
The welkin will ring loud,
The great crowd will feel proud,
Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;
And the rest coming home with the urn.
Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;
The welkin will ring loud,
The great crowd will feel proud,
Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;
And the rest coming home with the urn.
The names referenced are members of the England team.
Although Bligh returned home with the urn following England's success down under, the term ‘Ashes’ did not appear to immediately catch on.
According to Marylebone Cricket Club, "for 20 years after the 1882/83 series the term ‘the Ashes’ was largely forgotten, only being revived by Sir Pelham Warner’s account of his 1903/04 victory".
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It is added: "Even after the idea of ‘the Ashes’ came back into fashion, the existence of the urn was largely unknown by the general public until it was first put on display in 1926, shortly before its donation to MCC."
The urn was donated to the MCC when Bligh died in 1927.
It remains at Lord’s Cricket Ground and has never been used as the official trophy since being donated.
Over 140 years after it was first coined, the Ashes has become one of the most well-known and fiercely contested series in sport.
What is used as the Ashes trophy?
You may have seen players kissing an urn following Ashes triumphs - but they have only been replicas, which are presented to each winning team.
The real urn is on display at the Marylebone Cricket Club museum at Lord’s alongside a scorecard from the 1882 match between England and Australia.
The urn has travelled to Australia three times, most recently in 2019 when it was displayed at the State Library Victoria.
What is the history of the Ashes?
The 2025/26 Ashes will be the 74th between England and Australia.
Australia hold the edge in terms of wins with 34, two ahead of England. There have been seven draws, including the latest one played in England in 2023.
In the case of a draw then the holder of the Ashes retains it.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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