Cricket: Australia may have lost the Ashes for the first time in 18 years but the team's fans will at least get a rare chance to see cricket's most famous trophy on their own soil.
Australian and English cricket officials have reached an agreement allowing the tiny urn to tour Australia during the 2006-2007 series.
It will be only the second time the fragile vessel has left England's shores even though Australia have won more series between the rivals over the past 129 years.
"We are extremely grateful for the MCC's enthusiasm and commitment to bringing the Ashes urn to Australia next year," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said yesterday.
The urn has only once before been displayed in Australia, in 1988 to celebrate the bicentenary of European settlement. The urn was scheduled to travel to Australia during the 2002-'03 Ashes but the plan was aborted when cracks were discovered in the 10cm-tall urn and it was deemed too delicate to travel.
The phrase "Ashes" was coined after England lost to Australia, for the first time on home soil in August 1882.
The 2006-07 Ashes Test series between Australia and England will be sandwiched into a 45-day window to avoid clashing with the major one-day tournaments scheduled around the same period. The five Tests will be squeezed into six and a half weeks from late November 2006 to early January 2007.
The start of the tour has been pushed back from its usual October slot because the ICC Champions Trophy in India does not finish until November 5th. The tour ends in mid-February, just a month ahead of the World Cup in the West Indies.
England's Ashes tour itinerary 2006-07
November 10th, v Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.
November 12th-14th, v New South Wales (practice match) in Sydney.
November 17th-19th, v South Australia in Adelaide.
November 23rd-27th, v Australia (first Test) in Brisbane.
December 1st-5th, v Australia (second Test) in Adelaide.
December 9th-10th, v Western Australia in Perth.
December 14th-18th, v Australia (third Test) in Perth.
December 26th-30th, v Australia (fourth Test) in Melbourne.
January 2nd-6th, v Australia (fifth Test) in Sydney.
January 9th, v Australia (T20) in Sydney.
January 12th, v Australia (VB Series) in Melbourne.
January 16th, v New Zealand (VB Series) in Hobart.
January 19th, v Australia (VB Series) in Brisbane.
January 23rd, v New Zealand (VB Series) in Adelaide.
January 26th, v Australia (VB Series) in Adelaide.
January 30th, v New Zealand (VB Series) in Perth.
February 2nd, v Australia (VB Series) in Sydney.
February 6th, v New Zealand (VB Series) in Brisbane.
February 9th, First VB Series final in Melbourne.
February 11th, Second VB Series final in Sydney.
February 13th, Third VB Series final (if required) in Brisbane.
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