The Ashes

Test cricket series played between Australia and England, the oldest known cricket league

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
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
AdministratorInternational Cricket Council
FormatTest cricket
First Edition1882–83 (Australia)
Latest Edition2023 (England)
Next Edition2025–26 (Australia)
Tournament format5-match series
Number of teams2
Current trophy holder Australia (Series drawn) (2023)
Most successful Australia (34 series wins, six retentions)
Most runsAustralia Donald Bradman (5,028)
Most wicketsAustralia 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.

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