How a 'small but special' urn became the symbol of cricket rivalry between England and Australia.

The Ashes series returns to England in 2023. This is one sporting event that needs no introduction.

The five-test Ashes series will take place in June and July next year, as England bid to hit back against Australia at home. Ben Stokes will lead England for the first time in an Ashes series, with the hosts looking to regain the urn for the first time since 2015.

But what exactly is the Ashes, and why does it have its name?

An Ashes series traditionally consists of five Tests, hosted in turn by England and Australia at least once every two years.  And it all started with a perfume jar…

The term 'Ashes' was first used after England lost to Australia - for the first time on home soil - at the Oval on 29th August 1882.

A day later, the Sporting Times carried a mock obituary of English cricket which concluded that: "The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia". The concept caught the imagination of the sporting public.

A few weeks later, an English team, captained by the Hon Ivo Bligh [later Lord Darnley], set off to tour Australia, with Bligh vowing to return with "The Ashes"; his Australian counterpart, WL Murdoch, similarly vowed to defend them.

As well as playing three scheduled matches against the Australian national side, Bligh and the amateur players in his team participated in many social matches. It was after one such match, at the Rupertswood Estate outside Melbourne on Christmas Eve 1882, as per the records, a woman named Florence Murphy obtained the bails of the stumps and burnt them. It is known that Murphy assembled the ashes of those bails in a perfume bottle and presented it to the England captain, Ivo Bligh. This is the reason that the present Ashes Trophy resembles the shape of that perfume bottle.

In February 1884, Bligh married Florence. Shortly afterwards, they returned to England, taking the urn - which Bligh always regarded as a personal gift - with them. It stayed on the mantelpiece at the Bligh family home - Cobham Hall, near Rochester in Kent - until Bligh died, 43 years later. At his request, Florence bequeathed the urn to MCC. Today, over 75 years on, the tiny, delicate and irreplaceable artefact resides in the MCC museum at Lord's.

In the 1990s, recognising the two teams' desire to compete for an actual trophy, MCC commissioned - after discussions with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia - an urn-shaped Waterford Crystal trophy.

This was first presented to Mark Taylor after his Australian side emerged triumphant in the 1998-99 Test series against England. Since then, the trophy has been presented to the winning captain at the end of each Test series between Australia and England.

The Ashes are regarded as being held by the team that most recently won the series. If the series is drawn, the team that currently holds the Ashes retains the trophy. In total, there have been 72 Ashes series: Australia have won 34, England have won 32 and six series have been drawn.

Join us next year and entertain your valued clients at one of the sporting events of the year!

If you are interested one or more of the Ashes Tests next year, please click here to complete an enquiry form and one of the sales team will be in touch.

Pantheon Hospitality specialise in official corporate hospitality packages at the biggest and best sport and music events. As an independent hospitality company with a wealth of industry knowledge, we will work closely with you to understand your needs and offer the package that is right for your business. Our small team offer a friendly, personalised service and will assist with any enquiry you have. If we are unable to help (we probably will be able to), we will happily point you in the right direction and offer any useful advice we can.

If you are interested in entertaining your clients at the very best events, and looking for a personalised service, next time you are booking a corporate hospitality package, please get in touch with us.