ASHES mania is about to grip the country and world.

England expects as our cricketing heroes take on arch enemies Australia in what will no doubt be a battle supreme – and all over a little urn.

The Ashes first came to light way back in 1882 when the Aussies dared to beat England for the first time on home soil at The Oval on August 29.

Just a day later the Sporting Times made great play of the momentous victory and published a mock obituary to English cricket which concluded that: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".

The battle of the Ashes had begun.

A few weeks later, an English team, captained by the Hon Ivo Bligh (later Lord Darnley), set off to tour Australia, with Bligh vowing to return with "the ashes". His Australian counterpart, WL Murdoch vowed to defend them.

As well as playing three scheduled matches against the Australian national side, Bligh and the amateur players in his team took part in social games. After one at the Rupertswood Estate outside Melbourne on Christmas Eve 1882, Bligh was given the small terracotta urn as a symbol of the ashes.

It remained on the mantelpiece at the Bligh family home at Cobham Hall, near Rochester in Kent until Bligh died, 43 years later. His family then, at his request, bequeathed the urn to MCC. Today the tiny, delicate yet world-famous urn resides in the MCC Museum at Lord's.

It has been the subject of many near life and death battles ever since.

There is something about the Ashes. It turns players into warriors, supporters into maniacs and attracts the attention of people who may have never previously shown an interest in cricket.

Take 2005 for instance when Michael Vaughan led his team to triumph over the men with the baggy green hats. The nation was awash with Ashes hysteria. Thousands watched the games, thousands were locked out of grounds and millions tuned into watch on television.

The streets of London were jam packed with thousands of people as our heroes were given an unprecedented victory parade. They even had tea with the Queen!

The sight of Andrew Flintoff rather worse for wear after hours of celebrating will live in the minds of cricket lovers for decades.

Suddenly cricket was reborn throughout the country. Thousands of children started looking for a bat and ball for the first time rather than a football and keeper’s gloves. Cricketers suddenly became household names to take their place among the footballing superstars.

There was something of a rather sobering occasion just a year later when the Aussies regained the Ashes on their home turf, dishing out a 5-0 drubbing in the process.

Pride is at stake for the English boys this time around.

The war that is England versus Australia has involved some legendary dog fights – and names – over the years.

Dennis Lillie, the Chappell brothers, Rodney Marsh, Ian Beefy Botham, Bob Willis and, of course Shane Warne to mention but a few.

Now Vaughan has gone and so, too, has Harmison. There’s no Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist or McGrath.

A new breed of cricketers led by Ponting and Strauss are about to enter the gladiatorial arena.

Can Pietersen and Flintoff see off the invaders or will Lee and Hussey return victorious?

We won’t know the answers until the last ball has been bowled. What we do know is the Ashes is about to start. Hold on to your seats. It’s going to be tough - no prisoners will be taken.