Ashes urn to travel Australia for only third time

As England and Australia prepare for their Test series later this year, the Ashes urn will travel down under for the third time since its creation as part of an exhibition in Melbourne.

At the end of every Test series, a replica is presented to the winning side.

Having toured Australia in 1988 and 2006-07, the urn is set to be kept at the State Library Victoria's new Victoria Gallery, currently under construction, as it showcases an exhibit called 'Velvet, Iron, Ashes' from December until February, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The urn, which is the symbol of cricketing battles between Australia and England since it was gifted to the visiting English captain Ivo Bligh during the summer of 1882-83, has rarely been taken out of its home at the MCC Museum at The Lord's in London.

"We are delighted to loan the Ashes Urn, a symbolic and special treasure, to State Library Victoria. The story of the Ashes Urn is one that captivates so many people around the world and the State Library Victoria's exhibition is a very fitting place for its story to be told," MCC chief executive and secretary, Guy Lavender said.