From the arrival of the tiny urn more than 120 years ago, the Ashes have remained amongst the most coveted prizes in world sport. Australia has held sway over England over much of the recent past, but the tide has now turned. In one of the greatest series ever, the Ashes returned to England in 2005 and then, at a packed and sunlit Oval on 23 August 2009, they came back again. But was the greatest task, winning the urn on Australian soil – one not achieved for 24 years – beyond England’s current side? Not a bit of it. An emphatic 3-1 series triumph saw Andrew Strauss’s supremely drilled and gifted side walk away with the ultimate prize.

The Glorious Ashes traces the history of Anglo-Australian rivalry back to the days of Grace and Spofforth, and the great Test match of 1882 in which both men took part. And it brings the legend right up to date with an in-depth review of each of the last two series.

The greatest players are featured, from Jack Hobbs to Ian Botham, from Don Bradman to Shane Warne. So too are the modern-day heroes as the Ashes hopes of millions of Englishmen have been reignited once more.