Page "The Ashes" Paragraph 65

The contents of the Darnley urn are also problematic ; they were variously reported to be the remains of a stump, bail or the outer casing of a ball, but in 1998 Darnley's 82-year-old daughter-in-law said they were the remains of her mother-in-law's veil, casting a further layer of doubt on the matter.

However, during the tour of Australia in 2006 / 7, the MCC official accompanying the urn said the veil legend had been discounted, and it was now " 95 % certain " that the urn contains the ashes of a cricket bail.

Speaking on Channel Nine TV on 25 November 2006, he said x-rays of the urn had shown the pedestal and handles were cracked, and repair work had to be carried out.

The urn is made of terracotta and is about six inches ( 150 mm ) tall and may originally have been a perfume jar.