Howard joins fray over Ashes

Townsville, August 10: Cricket-crazy Prime Minister John Howard has joined calls for the Ashes to come to Australia following last week's seventh successive series win by Australia over England.

Howard said it was time for English cricket authorities to release the "most treasured token of international sport," insisting it might spur the English to victory.

The small 118-year-old terra-cotta urn that is the Ashes trophy is kept at the Lord's museum in London. Since 1998, a replica Waterford Crystal trophy is presented to the winning side.

"I think that urn belongs in Australia," Howard said on Friday. "I ask our English friends to look at it in this way: If the urn were to come to Australia, that would give them a much great incentive to get it back."

English cricket officials rejected the same calls by Australian captain Steve Waugh and fast bowler Glenn McGrath following Australia's third-test victory last Saturday.

Australia has dominated the Ashes since 1989 when it reclaimed the cricketing prize in England after the loss of the 1986-87 series in Australia.

The Ashes urn originated from the first Australian win in England in 1882. That prompted a newspaper obituary for "death of English cricket" and the charred remains of a bail used in the match were placed in an urn.