The Ashes

1882First played
Australia vs EnglandTeams
70+Editions

The Ashes dates back to 1882, when England lost to Australia on home soil for the first time. A mock obituary in The Sporting Times declared that English cricket had died and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia" — and a legend was born.

Named after a satirical newspaper obituary published after Australia's shock win at The Oval in 1882. A small urn, said to contain the ashes of a bail, has been the symbolic prize ever since.