Australia's hold on the Ashes is not as strong as it would like, but at least the little urn is not far away from arriving on our shores.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the protector of the sacred little trophy, has confirmed the Ashes urn will tour Australia with the England cricket side in the summer of 2006-07.

But it won't be for long.

Regardless of who wins this series or the next, there are no plans for the Ashes to be permanently taken from its home, in the museum behind the Lord's pavilion in London.

The Ashes were last in Australia in 1988 to coincide with the celebrations commemorating the Bicentenary of English settlement.

It was meant to come out with the last England cricket tour, in 2002-03, but tiny fractures were detected in the urn, which made the trip too hazardous.

But MCC spokesman Iain Wilton said now that the urn had been repaired, it was ready to be sent to Australia the summer after next.

"We're just in the process of establishing with Cricket Australia the details of the trip," he said.

The MCC and Cricket Australia are yet to determine how long the Ashes will stay in Australia and whether the urn will be taken on a tour across the country.

The MCC is also discussing the trip with its insurers and security advisers.

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