"The Ashes" is a famed competition in cricket, contested between England and Australia. The Ashes series is one of the oldest and most celebrated rivalries in sports, dating back to 1882. It consists of a series of Test matches played during the summer months, with the winner claiming the coveted Ashes trophy. The term originated after a match in which Australia famously defeated England on English soil, leading to a satirical obituary claiming that English cricket had died and "the body" would be cremated, with "the ashes" taken to Australia. This storied rivalry adds significant prestige to international cricket.