The urn is now in much better shape than before The MCC's Roger Knight

They have repaired a number of cracks and the MCC say it is now in a "stable but still delicate condition".

"The project revealed the urn was in an even more precarious condition than x-rays had suggested," MCC secretary Roger Knight commented.

They now hope to revive plans for the urn to be sent to Australia, who have dominated Ashes series since 1989.

Arrangements were made to transport the urn and its velvet carrying bag to Australia two winters ago to mark the centenary of the first Ashes series.

But that plan was halted after it was deemed too fragile to transport overseas.

The damage to the Ashes was plain to see (� MCC)

The repair work was entrusted to Plowden and Smith Ltd after an x-ray examination of the 4ins high trophy was undertaken just over a year ago.

The main damage was a crack in the stem between the body of the urn and its foot.

"Repairing the Ashes urn was both an enormous privilege and a very daunting experience," company spokesperson Maryam Collins told the MCC website.

"It is perhaps the most famous sporting artefact in the world - and surely the most fragile one too."

The trophy is housed at the MCC museum at Lord's.

The Ashes were created after Australia's first Test series win in England, which prompted The Sporting Times to publish a mock obituary for English cricket.

England will have to sweat it out to get it back From Voosan Raj Have your say on TMS

The bails from the match were later "cremated" and placed in the tiny urn.

Cricket Australia has a replica of the trophy, presented in 1948 after the 4-0 series victory by Don Bradman's "Invincibles".

But Prime Minister John Howard called for the real thing to be handed over following their most recent series victory over England in 2002-03.