Batting, keeping score up, one could do this to The Ashes (5)
I believe the answer is:
inurn
'one could do this to the ashes' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun but the answer is not.
'batting keeping score up' is the wordplay.
'batting' becomes 'in' (as in batting or being 'in' in cricket).
'keeping' indicates putting letters inside.
'score' becomes 'run' (run is a kind of score).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'run' written backwards gives 'nur'.
'in' going around 'nur' is 'INURN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inurn that I've seen before include "put in vessel" , "secure The Ashes" , "Bury" .)