Australia Clinches 5-Wicket Victory Over England in Thrilling 5th Ashes Test at Sydney

The 2025/26 Ashes wrapped up with a fantastic 5th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia beat England by five wickets to win the series 4-1. From January 4 to 8, cricket fans saw a really intense battle between two top teams. Travis Head killed it and got Player of the Match for his batting, and Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Series because he was awesome the whole time. The last Test was all about skill, staying strong, and smart moves, with Australia just being better at both batting and bowling.

Toss and Conditions at the SCG

Won the toss by England and chose first to bat . It was a good day for batting. The pitch at the SCG had a nice bounce, which meant you could hit the ball well if you were able to concentrate. The outfield was quick, and the sun made it easy to see everything. The game went on for five days, starting at 10:00 AM, with breaks for lunch (12:30-1:10 PM) and tea (3:10-3:30 PM), and ending at 5:30 PM each day.

Australia was doing great in the series and wanted to keep it up at home, while England was trying to at least not lose too badly. The SCG is known for exciting endings, and this game didn’t let anyone down.

England’s First Innings: Joe Root and Harry Brook Stand Out

England started slow, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett trying to get a good start. Duckett looked good, smacking 27 off 24 balls, with five fours, but Crawley struggled and got out for 16. Jacob Bethell didn’t do much better, with just 10 runs, so the middle order had to try and save things.

Joe Root was great for England, scoring 160 off 242 balls. He was patient and knew how to score against Australia’s tough bowling. Harry Brook helped a lot with 84 off 97 balls, including six fours and a six, which gave England a good base. But then Ben Stokes got out for nothing, and Jamie Smith only got 46. England ended up with 384 runs in 97.3 overs, which was a tricky score for Australia to chase.

Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser were the best Australian bowlers, taking two and four wickets each. Starc was fast and accurate, while Neser kept the pressure on England’s middle order with some good bowling. Scott Boland and Marnus Labuschagne also helped make sure England didn’t score too many runs.

Australia’s First Innings: Travis Head Takes Over

Australia answered with a huge 567 in their first innings, mostly because of Travis Head’s amazing 163 off 166 balls. Head played smartly and aggressively, hitting 24 fours and a six. Steven Smith also helped with 138 off 220 balls, and Marnus Labuschagne added 48, which meant Australia had a great first innings.

Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes were England’s best bowlers, taking three and two wickets each. Even though England tried to break up the partnerships, Australia’s batting lineup was too strong. Michael Neser and Beau Webster also chipped in, with Webster finishing on 71 not out and speeding up the scoring at the end.

The first innings showed that Australia had better batting than England, and they made the most of playing at home, which gave them a mental edge going into the second innings.

England’s Second Innings: Jacob Bethell Plays Well, But It’s Not Enough

In their second innings, England had a tough job of chasing 160 to win, after falling behind in the first innings. Things got worse quickly when Zak Crawley was out LBW to Starc for just one run. Ben Duckett put up a fight with 42, but Jacob Bethell was the star, scoring 154 off 265 balls. He showed great skill and picked his shots well. Bethell hit 15 fours, proving he could handle the aggressive bowling and keep the innings going.

But the other England players didn’t help Bethell enough. Joe Root only got six before getting out, and others like Will Jacks and Ben Stokes couldn’t turn good starts into big scores. England ended up with 342, which meant Australia needed just 160 to win on the last day.

Mitchell Starc’s bowling in the second innings was key, as he took three wickets and kept the pressure on England’s batters. Scott Boland also bowled well, taking two wickets and not letting England get any momentum. The good bowling and smart use of pace and swing gave Australia the advantage going into their second innings.

Australia’s Second Innings: Easy Win

Australia was calm and in control in their second innings, needing just 160 to win by 5 wickets. Travis Head was good again, scoring 29 off 35 balls. Jake Weatherald helped with 34, and Marnus Labuschagne added 37 before getting run out.

Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and Cameron Green all made small contributions to keep things steady. Josh Tongue was England’s best bowler, taking three wickets, but Australia’s experienced batters managed the chase well. Australia got to 161 for 5 in just 31.2 overs, winning the series easily.

The chase showed that Australia could handle the pressure, playing aggressively but smartly. The last day was all about smart captaincy, good bowling, and solid batting, which led to a well-deserved series win.

Top Players and Important Moments

Travis Head got Player of the Match for his great batting in both innings. His 163 in the first innings set up Australia’s big total, and his runs in the second innings made sure they won. Mitchell Starc, with 31 wickets in the series and key contributions in this Test, was named Player of the Series.

Other good performances included Steven Smith’s 138 in Australia’s first innings, Jacob Bethell’s 154 for England in the second innings, and Beau Webster’s 71 not out, which sped up the scoring and made Australia’s batting stronger. Starc’s pace and Neser’s accurate bowling were important in stopping England’s batting.

The game also broke records, with the SCG having 211,032 people over the five days, which shows how popular the Ashes are. On Day 5, there were 25,847 fans in the stadium, cheering every run and wicket in an exciting finish.

Series Result and What It Means

Australia’s win in the last Test meant they won the series 4-1. This showed that Australia is very strong at home, makes good plans, and has some great players. England, even though they had some good moments, especially from Jacob Bethell, weren’t steady enough and didn’t have the strength to challenge Australia over the five Tests.

This win gives Australia 12 points in the ICC World Test Championship standings, while England stays at zero. This result makes Australia an even stronger Test team. England now needs to rebuild and get better at both batting and bowling for future games.

In Conclusion: Australia Wins the Ashes Easily

The 5th Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground was a great end to an exciting series. Australia was strong because of their smart plans, steady play, and good teamwork. Travis Head and Mitchell Starc were key players, showing how good they are.

England’s fight, especially Jacob Bethell’s 154, was good, but not enough to beat Australia. Australia’s easy chase on the last day proved they can stay calm and play well under pressure, winning by 5 wickets.

As the 2025/26 Ashes ends, Australia can celebrate a great series win, while England needs to think about what went wrong and work on getting better for future games. The 5th Test showed the excitement and skill that the Ashes always brings, and fans are already looking forward to the next one.