ON THIS DAY: PM CALLS FOR THE URN TO BE ALLOWED 'HOME'

The Cricketer looks back on famous moments in Ashes history during England’s trip Down Under.

The Cricketer looks back on famous moments in Ashes history during England’s trip Down Under.

Today’s tale is all about a 10-inch urn, an Aussie PM and a long old wait for a flight...

It was the day the Ashes turned diplomatic.

Goodness knows why, less than 24 hours after his country secured series victory over their old rivals inside 11 days, the Australian Prime Minister saw it important to very publicly wade into the age-old debate about the whereabouts of the urn but saw it important he did.

Instead of continuing the celebrations, or at least nursing a decent hangover, John Howard gave a statement to the Sydney Daily Telegraph insisting that it was time for the Ashes urn to return Down Under.

"Given our sustained supremacy, it is not unreasonable to argue the urn should be on display in Australia," he said in words sprawled across the front page of the publication on December 2, 2002.

"I ask our English friends to look at it this way: If the urn were to come to Australia, then they would have a much greater incentive to win it back.”

There was some substance to his argument. Though the urn itself is not a trophy competed for by the two countries - a fact made clear to Howard by an abrupt statement from ECB head of communications Iain Hilton at the time - it still has significant symbolic value.

^{The Ashes urn got its own seat on the plane... but it took a while for Australia to get it back}

As much as it was a gift from the Australians to their guests, albeit a very tongue-in-cheek one, way back in 1882, the 10-inch tall ornament represents over a century of sporting emotion, dedication and intrigue.

That, added to the fact that Australia had emerged on top in every single series since 1987, left Howard ready to speak out.

Making do with a replica - presented after the Invincibles demolished England 4-0 in 1948 - was no longer enough.

"While the location of the Ashes trophy is certainly not going to strain diplomatic relations between Australia and the United Kingdom, I strongly support the Australian Cricket Board's efforts to allow the nation's cricket fans to view the hallowed trophy,” he went on.

"It would be a real gesture on the part of English cricket authorities for it to come to Australia. It would be a welcome piece of symbolism that would not be lost on the cricketing world."

In the immediate aftermath, the noises coming out of Lord’s might have been somewhat dismissive - “the Ashes urn is not and never has been a trophy competed for between Australia and England,” said Wilton in the sort of tone a schoolmaster might use with a repeat offender - but eventually an agreement was reached.

In 2006, more than five years after the demand for the urn to return had started gaining serious momentum, and following an expensive and lengthy restoration project to fix cracks in its outer shell, the world’s tiniest trophy-that’s-not-a-trophy got its chance to fly overseas.

^{Then-Australia PM John Howard got involved in 2002 but it was four more years before the visit took place}

It was the first time since 1988 that it had visited, and it was afforded its own first-class seat and security entourage for the long trip Down Under. “Urn, Ashes, Mr,” read the name on the boarding pass.

Insured for a fee reportedly in the low seven figures, it was accompanied across Australia by MCC curator Adam Chadwick, who was quick to dismiss any suggestion of the urn staying behind when England left - just as well, given that on the field the tourists crumpled like half-baked clay.

“It was a gift, a symbol of rivalry but also of friendship,” said Chadwick, taking the same stance to Wilton, albeit a little more tactfully.

“It was not meant as a trophy. Having given it to us, it would be wrong to ask for it back.”

And so, even though the Ashes were regained by Australia, the urn returned to Marylebone.

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