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On This Day In 1882: The Ashes Originates As England Lose To Australia

On This Day In 1882: The Ashes Originates As England Lose To Australia
Samuel Luckhurst

In 1882, "Demon" Fred Spofforth and Harry Boyle's inspired bowling delivered Australia their first Test match victory over England at the Kennington Oval at the ninth attempt. Dismissed for 77, England had implausibly lost by seven runs, and so devastating was the defeat the Sporting Times penned a sardonic, but unforgettable obituary.

In Affectionate Remembrance

of

ENGLISH CRICKET,

which died at the Oval

on

29th AUGUST 1882,

Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing

friends and acquaintances

R.I.P.

N.B.—The body will be cremated and the

ashes taken to Australia.

After the third test had been won by England in Australia in 1883, a cricket bail was cremated to commemorate the Ashes and sealed in an 11cm tall terracotta urn. A group of Melbourne ladies presented it to England captain Ivo Bligh.

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Not a replica, but one of the most famous sporting trophies, The Ashes, in 1921

When Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook held aloft the urn on the last three occasions in victory it was a replica. The actual urn's fragile condition and worth ensures it shall remain under lock and key at the MCC Cricket Museum at Lord's.

The Ashes
Sport - Exhibition of National Sporting Trophies - Hutchinson House, London(01 of19)
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The Ashes urn, first presented during the England cricket tour to Australia in 1882, to England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women (credit:PA)
Sport - Exhibition of National Sporting Trophies - Hutchinson House, London(02 of19)
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Left to right, The F.A Cup, The Ashes urn, and the Rugby League Challenge Cup, at the Exhibition of National Sporting Trophies, at Hutchinson House, London (credit:PA)
Cricket - The Ashes - Third Test - Third Day - Australia v England.(03 of19)
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Australia's Glen McGrath and Andy Bichel with the replica Ashes urn. (credit:PA)
Cricket - npower Sponsorship Launch - Lords (04 of19)
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The Ashes trophy (credit:PA)
Cricket - Ashes announcement - Oval(05 of19)
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The Ashes urn on display during the Ashes squad announcement at the Oval in London. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Launch of Ashes Exhibition - Lord's Cricket Ground(06 of19)
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Former England player Mike Gatting with the Ashes Urn during the launch of the MCC & Travelex Ashes Exhibition Tour at Lord's Cricket Ground, St Johns Wood, London. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Ashes launch - Sydney(07 of19)
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Australia captain Ricky Pointing looks down at the orignal Ashes urn on display at the Museum of Sydney during the launch of the Ashes Series in Sydney, Australia. (credit:PA)
Cricket - The Ashes 2009 - npower First Test - England v Australia - England Nets - Sophia Gardens(08 of19)
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Australian captain Ricky Ponting poses for photographers with a replica Ashes urn during at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. (credit:PA)
CRICKET England_POOL 7(09 of19)
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England's Andrew Flintoff celebrates with a cigar as he holds the Ashes urn in the changing room after winning the Ashes on the final day of the fifth npower Test match against Australia at the Brit Oval, London, Monday September 12, 2005. England regained the Ashes after drawing the final Test match and winning the series 2-1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo credit should read: Tom Shaw/Getty Images/PA/POOL (credit:PA)
CRICKET England 26(10 of19)
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England cricket captain Michael Vaughan (L) holds aloft the Ashes urn as players Kevin Pietersen (C) and Andrew Flintoff celebrate during the Ashes victory parade in London, Tuesday September 13, 2005. England regained the Ashes yesterday after drawing the final Test match and winning the series 2-1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo credit should read: Matthew Fearn/PA. (credit:PA)
Third Test - Australia v England: Day Five(11 of19)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Adam Gilchrist of Australia poses with a replica Ashes Urn after Australia's victory on day five of the third Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at the WACA on December 18, 2006 in Perth, Australia. Australia's victory in the third Test Match means they regain the Ashes. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Cricket - The Ashes 2009 - npower Fifth Test - Day Four - England v Australia - The Brit Oval(12 of19)
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England's Steve Harmison (left) and Andrew Flintoff celebrate with the Ashes Urn following victory over Australia in the fifth npower Test Match at the Oval, London. (credit:PA)
Cricket - 2010 Ashes Series - England v Australia - Captains Photocall - The Gabba(13 of19)
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England captain Andrew Strauss (left) and Australian captain Ricky Ponting pose for photographers with the Ashes Urn during a photocall at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. (credit:PA)
Cricket - The Ashes 2013 Preview Package(14 of19)
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File photo dated 07/01/2011 of England captain Andrew Strauss lifting the Ashes Urn after winning the fifth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Ashes End of Series Package(15 of19)
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File photo dated 09/07/2013 of England captain Alastair Cook with Australia captain Michael Clarke holding the Ashes Urn. (credit:PA)
Cricket - 2010 Ashes Series - Fifth Test Match - Australia v England - Day Five - Sydney Cricket Ground(16 of19)
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England's Alastair Cook (left), Graeme Swann (centre) and James Anderson celebrate in the dressing room with the ashes urn after winning the series 3-1 during the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Fifth Investec Ashes Test - Day Five - England v Australia - The Kia Oval(17 of19)
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England captain Alastair Cook poses with the Urn in his dressing room after winning the Ashes Series during day five of the Fifth Investec Ashes Test match at The Kia Oval, London. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Fifth Investec Ashes Test - Day Five - England v Australia - The Kia Oval(18 of19)
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England's Kevin Pietersen celebrates with fans after winning the Ashes series during day five of the Fifth Investec Ashes Test match at The Kia Oval, London. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Fifth Investec Ashes Test - Day Five - England v Australia - The Kia Oval(19 of19)
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England captain Alastair Cook kisses the Ashes Urn (credit:PA)

The MCC refused to award the Australians the urn during their dominance in the 1990s and Bligh's great-great-grandson, Lord Clifton, argued the Ashes should not be returned to Australia because it belonged to his family.

Since 1929, the Urn has returned to Australia only twice. Firstly, when it was brought to Sydney for the Bicentenary Test Match in 1988 and again in 2006 for the tour of the Ashes Exhibition.

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