Why Are the Ashes So Called?

 by Flo Yearsley

The Ashes is one of the most prestigious and hard-fought battles in the world of sport. An entertaining, sometimes brutal battle between two cricketing sides that hold little affection for each other. For almost 150 years, England and Australia have fought a usually biennial series of matches to decide which country can hold the prestigious but tiny urn for the next two years. But how did this strange little trophy and odd-sounding cricket series become so iconic?

The two countries played their first Test against each other in Melbourne in 1877, but it wasn't until five years later that the Ashes legend took flight.

After a punishing series of matches on their English tour, the Aussies faced England at the Oval in August 1882. After scoring a paltry 63 in the first innings, an Australia win wasn't likely, but England being England, they let them back into the match. 

The home team needed just 85 runs to win, but Australia's fast bowler Fred Spofforth ripped through England's batters and took his final four wickets for only two runs. England's last batsman needed to score ten runs to win but only managed two. The Oval fell silent - England had lost on home soil by seven runs.

Australia's first victory on English soil over England, on August 29, 1882, inspired a young journalist, Reginald Brooks, to write this mock 'obituary', which appeared in the Sporting Times.

"In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, August 29, 1882. 

Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances, RIP. 

NB The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."

The following year, Ivo Bligh, who became Lord Darnley, took an England team to Australia. He repeatedly promised to 'recover those ashes' on that tour, and the media quickly caught on to the phrase. 

Australia were victorious by nine wickets in the first Test, but with England winning the next two, it became generally accepted that they brought the Ashes back home.

There is some controversy around the first appearance of the little urn and even its contents.

Some say a group of Victorian ladies awarded it to Ivo Bligh. The Brisbane Courier reported in 1926:

'The proudest possession of Lord Darnley is an earthenware urn containing the ashes which were presented to him by Melbourne residents when he captained the Englishmen in 1882. Though the team did not win, the urn containing the ashes was sent to him just before leaving Melbourne.'

However, some say that the precious little urn was given to Ivo Bligh as a joke preceding the start of a series by Lady Janet Clarke, who he was staying with over Christmas 1882. 

Another controversy is what had been burnt and put into the small terracotta urn. Some say a bail, others a ball, and in 1998, Ivo Bligh's daughter-in-law even insisted it was her mother-in-law's veil! 

Whatever is in the urn and however Ivo Bligh came into possession, the passion and pride surrounding the five matches that make up the Ashes series are hard to parallel. 

The rivalry between England and Australia has been fierce, with many closely contested battles and controversies. 

There have been 72 Ashes series since 1883. Australia has won 34, England 32, and six series have ended in a draw.

The following is the text on the urn:-

'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.'

The original Ashes urn can be seen at the cricket museum at Lords Cricket Ground, London.