The Ashes: Where does the series get its name and what is in the urn?

The inscription on the urn is a six-line poem referencing the early days of the series and reads:

“When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;

Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;

The welkin will ring loud,

The great crowd will feel proud,

Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;

And the rest coming home with the urn.”

There have been 73 Ashes series, with Australia winning 34 and retaining the urn six times from draws. England have won 32 series and retained it once.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.