The Ashes urn, a symbol of cricket rivalry between England and Australia, is among the smallest trophies contested in sport, though it is not the smallest. Measuring just 10.5 centimeters tall, the terracotta urn dates back to 1882 after England suffered its first home defeat to Australia. Following the loss, a satirical obituary in The Sporting Times proclaimed the “death” of English cricket, stating its ashes would be taken to Australia.

Shortly thereafter, English captain Ivo Bligh embarked on a tour of Australia with the aim of reclaiming "the ashes." During the tour, after winning a match played on the Melbourne Cricket Club President’s estate, Bligh was presented with the small urn by the President’s wife. The urn is believed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket ball used during the match. This artifact, now housed in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, serves as a symbolic prize for the historic series.

While the original urn is not awarded to players, modern Ashes series victors receive an urn-shaped Waterford Crystal trophy. This trophy was first presented to Australian captain Mark Taylor following his team’s 1998-99 Test series victory.

Though iconic, the Ashes urn is by no means the smallest trophy in sports history. An even smaller award exists in football: the Lyonesse Cup. At just 6 millimeters tall, this diminutive replica of the Jules Rimet Trophy has been contested annually since 2013 between teams from the Isles of Scilly and Penzance in southwest England.

In contrast to these petite trophies, some of the largest include the Stanley Cup, awarded in North American professional ice hockey, which stands nearly 90 centimeters tall, and sailing’s America’s Cup, the oldest international sports trophy, measuring approximately 1.1 meters in height. This wide range in trophy sizes illustrates the diversity of sporting traditions and the various ways competitors commemorate victory.