The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The Ashes are regarded as being held by the team that most recently won the Test series. If the test series is drawn, the team that currently holds the Ashes retains the trophy. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, The Sporting Times, immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first Test win on English soil. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". The mythical ashes immediately became associated with the 1882–83 series played in Australia, before which the English captain Ivo Bligh had vowed to "regain those ashes". The English media therefore dubbed the tour the quest to regain the Ashes.
Ben Stokes led England to World Cup glory and played one of the all-time great Ashes knocks, while Steve Smith plundered 774 runs in four Tests - but who was the player of the summer? BBC News - Published
England bowl Australia out for 263 to wrap up a 135-run victory and draw the series 2-2 in the final Test of the series at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England captain Joe Root takes a sensational catch to remove Josh Hazlewood and wrap up a 135-run victory for the hosts that sees the Ashes end in a 2-2 draw. BBC News - Published
England bowler Jofra Archer hits Australia's Matthew Wade on the arm with a vicious bouncer as tensions mount between the two on day four of the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Ben Stokes takes a brilliant catch at leg slip off the bowling of Stuart Broad to remove Steve Smith for just 23 as England look to level the Ashes in the final Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England's Stuart Broad has Australia's David Warner caught at slip - the seventh time in 10 innings he's dismissed him during the series - in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Joe Denly and Ben Stokes hit half-centuries as England build up a commanding lead of 382 over Australia in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Joe Denly narrowly misses out on a maiden century but still helps England into a match-winning position on the third day of the final Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Joe Denly narrowly misses out on a maiden century but still helps England into a match-winning position on the third day of the final Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Australia's Steve Smith takes "a beauty" to remove England's Chris Woakes as the hosts build a commanding lead in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England's Ben Stokes hits Australia's Marnus Labuschagne for six over mid-wicket to bring up his half-century as the hosts extend their lead in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England captain Joe Root edges Australia's Nathan Lyon to Steve Smith at slip to fall for 21 as the hosts look to build a healthy lead in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England opener Rory Burns get a thin under-edge off Nathan Lyon to fall for 20 as the hosts look to extend their lead in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England's Jonny Bairstow tricks Australia's Steve Smith into an unnecessary dive during day two of the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
England's Jos Buttler is bowled by Australia's Pat Cummins to leave the hosts 294-9 on day two of the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Jos Buttler's counter-attack gives England hope after a middle-order collapse on the first day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Jos Buttler's belligerent half-century rallies England following another familiar batting collapse on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Jos Buttler's belligerent half-century rallies England following another familiar batting collapse on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Peter Siddle spills a seemingly straightforward catch in the deep to give England captain Joe Root a let-off during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Steve Smith takes a juggled catch in the slips to dismiss Joe Denly for 14 as England lose their first wicket in the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval. BBC News - Published
Captain Joe Root says England must build towards winning the Ashes in Australia in 2021-22 after failing to regain the urn this summer. BBC News - Published
Captain Joe Root says England must build towards winning the Ashes in Australia in 2021-22 after failing to regain the urn this summer. BBC News - Published
Jason Roy and Craig Overton are dropped from the England team for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, with Sam Curran and Chris Woakes coming in. BBC News - Published
An England cricket fan says "racist and homophobic abuse" forced him to leave the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford. BBC News - Published
From batting collapses to Steve Smith's brilliance, the reasons behind England's Ashes failure - and could we have predicted it all along? BBC News - Published
From batting collapses to Steve Smith's brilliance, the reasons behind England's Ashes failure - and could we have predicted it all along? BBC News - Published
England's hopes of saving the Ashes fade with the loss of two late wickets on the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford. BBC News - Published
England's hopes of saving the Ashes fade with the loss of two late wickets on the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford. BBC News - Published
England's Ben Stokes almost takes an "extraordinary" catch to dismiss Australia's Steve Smith on day four of the fourth Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Australia's Mitchell Starc bowls England's Jonny Bairstow for 17 as the hosts look to avoid the follow-on on day four of the fourth Ashes Test. BBC News - Published
Jason Roy sees his middle stump uprooted by Josh Hazlewood to depart for 22 on day three of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. BBC News - Published
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