Australia sealed a dominant 4–1 series win in the 2025–26 Ashes, chasing down 160 to defeat England by five wickets on the final day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Alex Carey struck the winning runs amid jubilant scenes as the hosts retained the urn for the fifth consecutive time on home soil.
The series had effectively been decided early, with Australia storming to a 3–0 lead through emphatic victories in Perth, Brisbane (day-night), and Adelaide, retaining the Ashes in just 11 days — the quickest triumph since 2002–03. England responded with a remarkable four-wicket victory in a bizarre two-day Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, setting up a tense finale in Sydney.
Final-Day Drama
Resuming on day five needing 160 runs, Australia lost early wickets in a contentious opening session, with Josh Tongue removing both openers. Jake Weatherald fell for 34 just before lunch, but composed contributions from Marnus Labuschagne, stand-in captain Steve Smith, retiring veteran Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey steadied the chase and carried Australia home despite late drama.
Emotional Farewell for Khawaja
Khawaja, playing his farewell Test, received a guard of honour and an emotional ovation from the Pink Test crowd. He kissed the SCG turf in a poignant moment before later reflecting:
“The only thing I wanted was a win.”
Bethell’s Brilliance, Australia’s Depth
Earlier, Jacob Bethell’s heroic maiden Test century (142*) on day four extended the match to a fifth day, giving England a fighting chance after Australia’s mammoth first-innings total of 567. The total was built on Travis Head’s explosive 163 — his third century of the series — and Steve Smith’s 138.
Debutant Beau Webster impressed with valuable all-round contributions, underlining Australia’s depth even in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
England’s Concerns and Hope
For England, Bethell’s elegant knock was a rare bright spot in an otherwise dispiriting tour, exposing flaws in their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach against Australia’s pace attack led by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Questions remain over Ben Stokes’ fitness and the future of the regime, though young talents like Bethell and Harry Brook offer hope.
Series Summary
Australia’s triumph reinforces their Test dominance, lifting them to the top of the World Test Championship standings. The 4–1 scoreline reflects their overall superiority over the england cricket team.
