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It’s the oldest series in the history of international cricket but how much do we actually know about the Ashes?
What is the Ashes Series?
The Ashes series is a cricket tournament between England and Australia. The teams play test cricket in alternating countries. There are multiple tests within each series and the winning team claims The Ashes trophy.
Australia and England first played test cricket in 1877 while the Ashes trophy itself has been in place since 1882.
Short History of the Ashes Series
Australia and England played the first official test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877. Australia won the game by 45 runs and the sides have continued to play each other in international cricket since this point.
For the first few years, there was no official trophy in place, but that changed in 1882 when the Ashes came along.
In the modern era, the teams take turns to host the Ashes which is usually contested every two years. Five tests are usually played in the series and the team who has won the most games gets to lift the trophy.
If there is a drawn series, the team who had held the Ashes coming into the games gets to keep the trophy.
The Ashes Urn
The Urn is the trophy that the two teams play for and it is awarded to the winners of the series. It came about in 1882 when the England team under the Honourable Ivo Bligh had a particularly poor game against Australia at The Oval.
After England had lost the test, a mock obituary appeared in an English national newspaper mocking the team. It stated that the body of English cricket would be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia.
Subsequently, a trophy in the shape of a small urn was given to Bligh. It was said to contain the Ashes of a bail and this subsequently gave its name to the series.
The Ashes is kept under lock and key at Lord’s and, while it may be displayed by the captain of the winning side on occasions, it is too small and valuable to leave its secure environment for too long.
Grounds and Stadiums
A number of grounds have been used by England and Australia to host Ashes tests. Some are regularly used, while others will appear on a more ad hoc basis.
The very first test match between these two countries was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and this was also the venue for the centenary test 100 years later.
In Australia, the MCG is regularly used for Ashes games, along with the Sydney Cricket Ground, The Adelaide Oval, The Brisbane Cricket Ground and the Perth Cricket Ground.
In England, historically, Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Headingley were the six grounds used for Ashes games.
There have been occasional additions to that list and, in 2009, England hosted an Ashes tes at Cardiff for the first time. The series has also taken place in Durham in the north of England and the Riverside hosted its first Ashes game in 2013.
The other new international cricket ground in England is the Rose Bowl which is the home of Hampshire CCC. It has hosted test matches and it’s likely that an Ashes game will take place here in the future.
In Australia, the schedule of stadiums is more rigid, but the Bellerive Oval in Hobart joined the party when it hosted its first ever Ashes game on England’s 2021/22 tour.
Ashes Series FAQ
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Why Ashes Series called Ashes?
The series is called the Ashes after the trophy that the two teams fight for. It’s a tiny urn which contains the ashes of a bail.
After England lost the Oval test of 1882, a mock obituary appeared in the Sporting Times newspaper which referred to the ‘ashes’ of English cricket. When England toured Australia in 1882/83, the famous urn was given to their captain Ivo Bligh by a group of women from Melbourne.
Inside the urn, so they claimed, were the ashes of a bail. The urn became the trophy that the two teams play for and it is known as The Ashes.
Who Won most Ashes?
Australia leads the way in terms of most Ashes wins. At the end of the 2021/22 series, the Aussies had won 34 of the 72 official Ashes series that had been played,
England had won 32 series while the remaining six were drawn. The overall list is a close one and England will be looking to catch up in the near future.
Why is the Ashes Series so Important in Cricket?
The Ashes is the first recognised trophy in international cricket. Additionally, Australia and England played the first ever test match in history when they met at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877.
Other countries will argue that their games are better and they are right to have their opinions. That’s a matter for debate but the Ashes is so important because of its history within the game of cricket.
Why were there 2 Ashes Series in 2013?
Cricket authorities in England and Australia wanted to break the cycle of Ashes series. Prior to 2013, the timing meant that games were played ahead of an ICC World Cup. This could be draining for the players and the countries wanted to spread out the major competitions.
That’s why 2013 saw back-to-back Ashes series. The first was played in England during the home summer season and it was over to Australia for the second series in 2013/14.
Which is the Best Ashes Series of All Time?
The answer to this question would probably be dependent on whether you are English or Australian. If you ask a neutral, they may well say that the 2005 series in England was the best.
2005 had everything as England came from behind to win the five-match series 2-1. Not only was the series close, every game was a thriller with both teams in with a chance of winning.
There was some brilliant bowling and exceptional batting on both sides and many cricket fans, even one or two Australians, feel that this was the best.
Which Player has won the Most Ashes Series?
The record for most Ashes series wins as a player is eight and it’s jointly held by Steve Waugh and Johnny Briggs. Waugh made his Ashes debut in the 1986/87 series and would go on to play in 45 Ashes matches during a successful period for Australia.
Briggs was an English bowler who played international cricket between 1884 and 1899. This was a time when England were exclusively playing Australia and Briggs’ eight series wins came in 33 test matches.
Most Ashes Series played by a Player
Two players have featured in 15 Ashes series. Syd Gregory and Wilfred Rhodes are the two men in question. Gregory was an Australian batter who player in 58 tests between 1890 and 1912.
Rhodes is an Englishman who also played in 58 tests between 1899 and 1930. It’s probably no coincidence that this is the longest test career in cricket history
.Because of the scheduling of the Ashes in the modern day, the record of 15 is unlikely to ever be broken.
Most Ashes Matches wins as Captain
Australia’s Allan Border holds this particular record with 13 Ashes wins as skipper from 1985 to 1993. Border also holds the record for most matches as captain with 28.
Two players are tied in second place with 11 wins in Ashes games. Australia’s Don Bradman won 11 of his 19 games as skipper between 1936 and 1948. England’s Mike Brearley also won 11 Ashes matches but they came at a higher ratio in just 15 fixtures between 1977 and 1981.
Worst Ashes Series
Once again, this is an area which is open to some conjecture. A side that has been whitewashed 5-0 will say that it’s the worst Ashes series while the winning team would say it’s the best.
Statistically, the 1953 Ashes in England may be considered as the worst. Of the five tests that were played, four ended in draws while the home side claimed the final test to regain the Ashes for the first time since 1934.
Rain was a common factor throughout the series. It washed out the whole of the fourth day of the first test at Trent Bridge and didn’t allow play to resume until the evening session on the final day. When the teams travelled to Old Trafford for the third game, more than half of the match was lost due to the weather.
There was some good cricket at times but 1953 will be remembered for those rain interruptions and some dull play throughout the showers.
Conclusion
I hope it’s been an interesting read through some of the frequently asked questions relating to the Ashes series. Statistics are always fascinating to look at and this is the most historic game of all so there are plenty to consider.
If you want to know more about the Ashes, please take a look at the many articles on this site that relate to the oldest trophy in international cricket.
