What is the meaning of ‘Ashes’ in the Cricket world?

The term, ‘Ashes’ pertains to the mythical prize contended for in the Cricket Test matches between England and Australia. When England was beaten at the Oval in 1882 a mock obituary of English cricket appeared in the Sporting Times. The ashes of a burnt cricket stump were subsequently placed in an urn and given to the English team when it next won.