Legend behind 'The Ashes'

My family keeps discussing about all cricketing actions. I don’t know from where the discussion begins, but when it starts it will begin from where it originated till Dhoni to everything and everyone. This incident happened when I was in school, one day my brother went ga ga ga about ashes. My mind paused. I know there is a tournament called Ashes, but why do one call it ‘The Ashes’?

I did not have the power of internet when I was in school, so I used to see in newspapers whether there is any mention about it. Bad luck! I could never find out. I got all frustrated and asked my dad, why the hell they call it ‘The Ashes’?

There he began, explaining me. After listening to it, I thought it is the coolest thing ever happened to cricket and media is amazingly powerful. Here is what it is all about.

We all know that Ashes is a test series played between England and Australia in either of their home grounds. In 1882 Australia defeated England at Oval – London, I guess in 7 runs. That was the first time Aussies have won in English soil. The next day, The Sporting Times – A British newspaper published a mock obituary written by Reginald Brooks stating that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. Further the media nicknamed the next English tour to Australia as the quest to regain The Ashes. It is said that during that tour a small terracotta urn was gifted to England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women (Though Ivo Bligh’s wife, has a different story to it). The contents of the urn are believed to be the ashes of a bail. – And that’s how the name ‘The Ashes’ came into existence. Isn’t cool :)

There are many stories behind how the ash was put in the urn and how it was presented. However, this is really legendary to know.

I did not believe this story until my brother showed it to me in real at Lords - Marylebone Cricket Club Museum. It seems that the facsimile of the urn are given to the victorious teams but the actual urn has never been presented as a trophy since it is presented to MCC by Ivo’s wife after his death. However, irrespective of whoever wins the tournament, the original urn always stays at MCC museum forever :)