Australia vs England, 5th Test at Sydney, The Ashes 2025/26

The final Ashes Test of 2025/26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground has been a real nail-biter. The whole series has had some crazy moments, and this game? It’s living up to the hype. Australia and England have been playing some awesome cricket, with amazing plays, swings in the game, and some smart moves with the bat and ball. At the end of Day 3, Australia’s at 518 for 7 in their first go, which puts them 134 runs ahead of England. We’re set for an exciting last two days, and some players have really stepped it up for their teams.

England’s First Innings

England won the coin toss and chose to bat, figuring they could get a good score with the batting conditions at the SCG being decent. Things started kinda rough, with wickets falling pretty often early on. Zak Crawley got 16, and Jacob Bethell chipped in 10, while Ben Duckett and some other batters tried to steady the ship. But, England’s captain, Joe Root, played a brilliant innings, scoring 160 runs off 242 balls. Root played it old-school, being patient but also knowing when to swing. He hit the bad balls and handled the Aussie bowlers like a pro, which helped England put up a good score.

To help Root out, Harry Brook went on the attack, scoring 84 off 97 balls. He got runs quickly, which kept England going in the middle, and their run rate stayed up. Jamie Smith also added 46 runs, making the middle-order look pretty good. Though, when the late-order came-in, it kinda fell apart, with Ben Stokes scoring zero and Will Jacks getting just 27. England ended their innings at 384 in 97.3 overs, which meant Australia had a tough, but doable, target to chase.

Australia’s Bowling

The Australian bowlers did a good job keeping England’s score down by bowling well and getting wickets at the right times. Michael Neser was the best bowler, grabbing four important wickets for 60 runs. He was consistent and could move the ball, which made it hard for the English batters to score. Mitchell Start took two wickets, and Scott Boland was accurate and quick, so England couldn’t get any big partnerships rolling. Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne took some important wickets too, stopping England from running away with the game. Because of this good bowling, Australia stayed in the game and got ready to bat.

Australia’s First Innings

Australia got off to a good start, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald taking control. Head was really confident and skilled, hitting some great shots and knowing when to play it safe. Weatherald supported Head, scoring 21 before Ben Stokes got him out. That first partnership between Head and Weatherald helped Australia chase the score while keeping their wickets.

Travis Head’s innings was something else. By the end of Day 2, he had 91 not out from 87 balls, scoring over a run a ball in a Test match – that’s pretty rare! He found the gaps, rotated the strike, and smashed the loose balls, which put a lot of pressure on England’s bowlers. With 15 fours and a six, Head showed his talent and cool head, making him a key player for Australia.

Marnus Labuschagne knocked in 48 runs, teaming up with Head to steady things. Labuschagne was calm and played smart, which stopped any big collapse, and Australia steadily got closer to a good score. Michael Neser helped out with 24 runs, and Steven Smith and Beau Webster were not out on 129 and 42, respectively, when Day 3 wrapped up.

Key Partnerships and Moments

A big part of Australia’s innings was how well they worked together in partnerships. Even though Travis Head got out for 163, the team recovered with help from guys like Cameron Green, Steven Smith, and Beau Webster. The 81-run partnership between Steven Smith and Beau Webster for the eighth wicket made Australia’s position even stronger, helping them go over 500 runs and get a big lead over England.

Travis Head’s attacking style and Steven Smith’s calm way of playing showed how balanced Australia’s batting lineup is. Head went after England, while Smith made sure the innings didn’t fall apart under pressure. Smith and Webster’s partnership showed how good the lower-order is, which could be important in how this Test turns out.

England’s Bowling Issues

England’s bowlers had a tough day on Day 3, struggling to contain the Australian batters after Travis Head got out. Ben Stokes managed to get two wickets, including Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne, but the other bowlers had a hard time breaking partnerships. Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts bowled well, but they couldn’t stop Australia from getting ahead. When England missed chances in the last part of the day, Australia sped up the scoring and made their first-innings lead much bigger.

Match Numbers and What They Mean

At the end of Day 3, Australia had scored 518 for 7 in 124 overs, which is a great spot to be in. Travis Head scored the most with 163, Steven Smith got 129 not out, and Beau Webster added 42 runs. With that total, Australia has a big lead of 134 runs over England. England’s innings was built around Joe Root’s 160 and Harry Brook’s 84, but they couldn’t make the most of their start because they kept losing wickets at bad times.

The strike rates and partnerships show that Australia batted aggressively but also knew when to take it easy, with a lot of players scoring runs while taking fewer risks. The Aussie bowlers, especially Neser and Starc, kept England competitive, but some mistakes and missed chances let Australia take control.

The Pitch and Weather

The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground has been pretty fair, helping both the batters and bowlers at different times. The bowlers got some movement early on, especially in England’s first innings, but as the game went on, the pitch got better for batting, which let aggressive players like Travis Head dominate. The fast outfield helped quick running, which made batting more rewarding for Australia.

The weather has been good for the first three days, with no big interruptions. Good daylight and consistent temperatures have let both teams play their game.

Game Plan Breakdown

Australia went with a mix of aggression and smart risk-taking. Travis Head scored quickly and put pressure on England, while Steven Smith, Beau Webster, and other batters made sure things stayed steady. England basically needed Joe Root to hold down the innings and set a good target. But, relying on individual brilliance instead of team effort showed both the good and bad of the English side.

The Australian bowlers kept the pressure on with good line and length, but they still gave up some scoring chances in the final session of Day 3. England’s bowlers had trouble adjusting to the changes in the pitch and Australia’s aggressive batters, so they’ve got to find a way to get wickets early on Day 4.

What’s Next?

With three wickets left and a 134-run lead, Australia is in a strong position heading into the last two days. Guys like Steven Smith, Cameron Green, and Beau Webster still need to bat, which gives Australia more chances to score. England has to get early wickets and break partnerships to keep Australia from building a huge lead.

Day 4 should be exciting, with Australia looking to extend their lead and England trying to stop them while getting ready to counter-attack in their second innings. How the lower-order bats and the decisions made by the captains will be huge in deciding who wins this Test.

To Wrap It Up

The fifth Ashes Test at Sydney has been a great display of Test cricket, mixing aggressive batting with good bowling and smart tactics. Australia’s first innings, led by Travis Head and Steven Smith, has put them in a good spot, but England can still fight back with their experienced team. The game is still exciting, showing the history and high stakes of the Ashes. As the Test goes into its final stages, fans can expect more excitement, great performances, and maybe some series-defining moments at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

With the series so close and Australia having a lead, the next two days are key. Early wickets, good bowling, and smart batting could decide the winner. Both teams want to win, and this last Test could be remembered as one of the most intense and tactically interesting games in Ashes history.