How many Ashes urns would fit inside a Champions League trophy?

England captain Andrew Strauss with the urn

OK, here’s a quick question I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves at some point or another: how many times would the Ashes urn fit inside the UEFA Champions League trophy?

I don’t have the answer, by the way. Sorry to disappoint you. But it just occurs to me, as we prepare to do battle with the Aussies, that the vast difference between these two trophies, size-wise, also somehow symbolises the difference between the two sports, at least at that level.

One of them is ancient, understated, tiny, almost apologetically so. You could probably just about swallow it and live to tell the tale, though I don’t suggest you try. And yet it’s steeped in the most marvellous, colourful history. Oh, the stories it could tell.

The other is ugly, vulgar, spectacularly tacky, stupidly huge – and yet utterly hollow. It’s a symbol of excess for excess’s sake.

Inter Milan with the Champions League trophy

So anyway, there you have it. Just thought I’d share that little observation with you. I have nothing more to add, really.

But if you do happen to have an answer to the question I posed at the start, please let me know. I’m sure those of a mathematical persuasion could do the necessary calculations without too much trouble. Or just take a wild guess for the hell of it.

I will then gladly share your answer – or answers – with everyone else, allowing countless readers of this blog to go, ‘Oh, really?’ or ‘Golly!’ or ‘Er, right – and your point is . . ?’

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• http://bjorn.undo.com/ Björn Friðgeir

  This is the 66th Ashes series. This is the 56th season that the European Cup has been contested, and will be the 45th time that the current design of trophy will be awarded.
  Not a massive difference.
  I like cricket, but gosh what arrogance.

• http://iradar666.blogspot.com/ iRadar

  Love the piece, but unfortunately the urn is not a trophy awarded to the victorious Ashes team. The actual urn which sits in Marylebone Cricket Club Museum at Lord’s was presented as a gift to former England Captain Ivo Bligh before his widow offered it to the MCC.

  The victorious team does celebrate with a replica, however it has never been formally adopted as a trophy and remains in the MCC’s museum whoever wins.

  I hope you enjoy your first Ashes series as a cricket fan and hopefully come the end of it England will be returning with the Ashes of English cricket.