# Ashes series format: how teams win the urn _An explainer on the Ashes series format, points and how teams win the urn._ - Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in) - Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/ashes-series-format-how-teams-win-the-urn - Author: Rohit, Sports writer (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/rohit) - Published: 2026-11-13T01:08:29.552Z - Section: Cricket > Test Cricket - Topics: Australia, England, Test cricket, Ashes ## Summary The Ashes is a Test cricket series between England and Australia. This article explains how the series works, how points are awarded and how teams win the urn. ## Key takeaways - The Ashes is played between England and Australia. - The series dates back to 1882. - Since 1998, the series has consistently been five matches. - Australia are the current holders of the Ashes. - The series is generally played biennially. ## Article Australia retained the Ashes inside three Tests of the 2025–26 series, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon ruled out of the Boxing Day Test due to injury. Steve Smith returned from vertigo to captain the side, while Todd Murphy came into the squad to replace Lyon and Jhye Richardson took Cummins’ place. Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy said he does not believe Australia can currently win the Ashes in England and called for changes to the pace-bowling department, urging selectors to integrate Xavier Bartlett and give Fergus O'Neill Test exposure. ## What is the Ashes? The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times after Australia’s 1882 victory at The Oval, its first Test win on English soil. The obituary stated that English cricket had died and that "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". The mythical ashes became associated with the 1882–83 series played in Australia, before which English captain Ivo Bligh vowed to "regain those ashes". ## When and where is it played? The 2025–26 Ashes series, branded as the NRMA Insurance Men's Ashes Series, was the 74th edition of the Ashes. The five-Test series was played in Australia between 21 November 2025 and 8 January 2026. The series formed part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship. ## Who takes part? The Ashes is played biennially between England and Australia, alternating between the United Kingdom and Australia. Australia are the current holders of the Ashes, having either won or drawn each series between 2017–18 and 2025–26. ## How does it work? The series have varied in length, consisting of between one and seven Test matches, but since 1998 have been consistently five matches. It is the sport's most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882. ## How do teams win the urn? The urn is retained by the holders if the series is drawn. Australia retained the Ashes inside three Tests of the 2025–26 series. ## Why it matters The 2023 World Test Championship winners have continued to underwhelm, with inconsistent batting and patchy bowling performances contributing to a series defeat in South Africa. Questions remain over the form of Marnus Labuschagne, the ageing pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as well as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, as Australia look to rebuild during the 2025–27 WTC cycle. ## What happens next Ian Healy called for changes to Australia's Test setup, particularly in the pace-bowling department, if the team is to regain the Ashes in England in 2027. He said improvements in the batting line-up are not happening quickly enough and urged selectors to begin integrating white-ball pacer Xavier Bartlett into the Test setup and give Fergus O'Neill exposure to the demands of international cricket. Nathan Lyon had surgery on the hamstring injury he suffered in Adelaide and there is no timeframe for his recovery. ### Related on Apex Sports News - [Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: format, teams and India's record](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/commonwealth-kabaddi-championship-2026-format-teams-and-india-s-record) ### Sources - [Wikipedia: 2025–26 Ashes series (background)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_Ashes_series) - [Wikipedia: The Ashes (background)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ashes) - [Wikipedia: List of Ashes series (background)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ashes_series) - [Photo: DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Ashes_Countdown_installation,_Yagan_Square,_Nov_2025_02.jpg) --- Source: Apex Sports News, https://apexsportsnews.in/news/ashes-series-format-how-teams-win-the-urn. Please cite and link the original article when quoting.