Sports fans around the world love a good rivalry, but few compare to the Ashes.
This famous cricket series is played between England and Australia every couple of years.
The tradition began back in 1882 after Australia won a surprising game in London.
A British newspaper published a joke saying that English cricket was officially gone.
The writer claimed the sport had turned to ashes that were taken to Australia.
When the English team traveled to Australia next, they promised to win those ashes back.
A group of local fans presented the English captain with a tiny wooden urn.
To this day, that small trophy remains the ultimate prize in international cricket.
The actual games in this historic series are known as Test matches.
Unlike modern sports that finish in a few hours, a Test match takes time.
Players wear traditional white uniforms and compete for up to five days straight.
They play for several hours each day, taking short breaks to rest and eat.
This format requires incredible physical endurance and sharp mental focus from every single athlete.
Bowlers try to throw the hard red ball past the batter at high speeds.
Meanwhile, the batters must defend their wickets and score runs under immense pressure.
For both nations, winning the Ashes is about much more than just a trophy.
It represents national pride and a shared sporting history that spans over a century.
Millions of fans stay awake through the night to watch the broadcast on television.
The players know that a great performance can make them legends in their home countries.
Even if you do not understand cricket, the passion of the Ashes is truly contagious.