Over the years, it has become one of the most iconic trophies in the sporting world.
Right up there with the likes of the Champions League and FIFA World Cup, the Ashes urn is one of the most famous symbols of the cricket tournament, which begins in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Friday, November 21).

Australia is hosting the tournament after retaining the Ashes in a 2-2 draw with England in 2023, and as such, has been holding onto the urn ever since.

The Aussies have held the Ashes for four consecutive series now. Synonymous with cricket, the urn - despite its small size - is one of the most recognisable trophies on the planet.

This is how it came to be so famous, exactly how big it is and just how much it may be worth.

When was the urn made?
The Ashes urn was presented to England cricket captain Ivo Bligh during the 1882-83 tour in Australia.

Bligh received the urn after a friendly match at Rupertswood mansion in Sunbury. It came about after the captain promised to bring back 'the ashes of England cricket' before departure, following a mock obituary written about the state of England cricket after a loss earlier that year.

The urn includes a verse from the Melbourne Punch of February 1, 1983, which eulogises over the England cricket performance in that series.

How big is the urn and how much does it weigh?
The urn is famous for its petite appearance and stands at just 15cm or six inches tall. That's around a sixth of the height of an average cricket bat and just a little larger than one 4.37in bail.

The exact weight of the urn is apparently unknown, but it is made of terracotta, a type of fired clay.

What’s actually inside the trophy is also a bit of a mystery, with various tales being told over the years.

It was believed the urn contained the ashes of a wicket bail from the first match Bligh was presented with the trophy, but others suggest the ashes of a cricket ball are inside.

In 1998, Lord Darnley's daughter-in-law theorised that the ashes inside the urn were the remains of her mother-in-law's veil, rather than a bail.

How much is the Ashes urn worth?
The Ashes urn is invaluable and currently resides at the MCC Museum at Lord's under lock and key. It's impossible to price up such an important piece of cricketing history.

In 1909, Australian captain Monty Noble was presented with a version of the Urn that became one of only three known examples of the trophy. That version was auctioned in 2017 and was sold for $80,600 in Australia, so you'd imagine the original would be valued at much more than that figure.

If you want your own urn, the Lord's official shop sells replica versions for £60.