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Australia have capped off a commanding Ashes campaign with a five-wicket victory over England in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), securing the series 4-1. On a day filled with emotion and high drama, the hosts successfully chased down a target of 160, though not without a spirited scare from the English bowlers.
Australia held nerve to chase down the target
Resuming the final day needing 160 to win, Australia appeared to be cruising at 62/0 before England’s bowlers, led by Josh Tongue (3/42), sparked a mini-collapse. The dismissals of openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34) triggered a flurry of wickets that saw the hosts slip to 125/5.
However, Alex Carey and Cameron Green steadied the ship, guiding Australia home in the afternoon session. Carey struck the winning runs through the covers, sealing the match and marking the end of a successful home summer for the World Test Champions.
Usman Khawaja’s emotional SCG swan song
The match held special significance as it marked the final Test appearance for veteran opener Usman Khawaja. The SCG crowd rose to its feet as Khawaja walked out to bat in the second innings, receiving a guard of honour from the England team. Though his final stay at the crease was brief (6 runs), his contributions to Australian cricket were celebrated widely throughout the match.
Jacob Bethell’s heroics in vain
While England lost the match, they found a new star in 22-year-old Jacob Bethell. With the visitors staring at an innings defeat on Day 3, Bethell produced a stunning counter-attack, scoring a maiden Test century (154). His marathon knock, which included a barrage of boundaries against the aging ball, forced Australia to bat again and ensured the contest went deep into Day 5.
England’s first innings was anchored by a majestic 160 from Joe Root, but it was overshadowed by Australia’s first-innings monster total of 567, driven by centuries from Head (163) and Steve Smith (138).
Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Series for his consistent wicket-taking throughout the summer, while Head collected the Player of the Match award for his blistering first-innings century that set up the game.
Brief scores: England 384 and 342 (Joe Root 160, Ben Duckett 52; Jacob Bethell 154, Harry Brook 42; Michael Neser 4/60, Beau Webster 3/64) lost to Australia 567 and 161/5 (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 138; Marnus Labuschagne 37, Jake Weatherald 34; Josh Tongue 3/97, 3/42) by 5 wickets. Australia won the Ashes series 4–1.
Here’s how fans reacted:
England had so many chances in this series but fundamentally they have lost to a better cricket team .. Not the highest quality series I have seen but it’s been very entertaining .. #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 8, 2026
Alex Carey scores the winning runs as Australia claims a 4-1 series win.#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/SfFwXWibrn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2026
Australia win the Ashes 4-1 without Cummins( played 1 test ), Hazlewood and Lyon.
Well done Australia👏👏
Congratulations to @Uz_Khawaja on a wonderful career👏👏
There were glimpses of brilliance from England, but not enough to compete or win a test series down under.
Loads…— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 8, 2026
Full list of Australians with 30+ wickets and 150+ runs in an Ashes series:
George Giffen, 1894/95
Ranji Hordern, 1911/12
Dennis Lille, 1981
Shane Warne, 2005
Mitchell Johnson, 2013/14
Mitchell Starc, 2025/26#Ashes— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) January 7, 2026
🚨 AUSTRALIA WON THE ASHES 4-1. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/omhDkpWBJo
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 8, 2026
Mitchell Starc’s golden #Ashes is complete:
31 wickets at 19.93. 2x 5fas.
One of four international players to take 30+ wickets in a series since 2013. @SEN_Cricket @1116sen
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) January 8, 2026
Not the perfect ending for Khawaja, but the SCG still rose as one for a fitting end to a remarkable career. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/phFR2R4Ysl
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 8, 2026
🚨 STARC WRITTEN HISTORY 🚨
– Mitchell Starc has the Best strike rate in an Ashes series in the History, min 30 wickets. 😱 pic.twitter.com/MxnooX4lpi
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 8, 2026
Must be hugely disappointing for this excellent Australia side that snicko has meant that yet another Ashes series Down Under has to be voided.
— Adam Sutherland (@AdamSants_) January 8, 2026
31 wickets in just 5 matches, Mitchell Starc was on another level this Ashes series. A truly deserved Player of the Series 🌟#MitchellStarc #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/ReHPgKGYMW
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 8, 2026
AUS win 4-1 👏
2017-18 Won The Ashes
2019 Retained
2021-22 Retained
2023 Retained
2025-26 RetainedNo Hazlewood
Cummins one Test
Smith missed a Test
Lyon injured
Opener on debut
Fast bowler on debut
2 Fast bowlers recalled after 3 & 4 yrs🏏 #Ashes
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) January 8, 2026
Congratulations Australia on 4-1 series victory. Great character and fight shown by England.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) January 8, 2026
Australia won 2025/26 Ashes series (4–1)
Continuing their dominance. 🏏🔥Ashes Series History
35 – Aus Won*
32 – Eng Won
7 – Drawn#AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/e21XlVSZo9— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 8, 2026
4-1.
It’s quite a scoreline for the ‘weakest’ Australian team that took on the ‘strongest’ English team to play The Ashes on Australian soil. #TheAshes— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 8, 2026
Starc’s series haul of 31 wickets is 6 more than the most that either Broad or Anderson managed in a series in their careers
— Dave (@Mesut_Ausil) January 8, 2026
Australia win the fifth Test by five wickets, and the Ashes 4-1. The right result. Aussies far from perfect but had all-time great performances from Head and Starc, while Carey and Boland were excellent too. England were not ready on any level, and their method was found out.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 8, 2026
WE’VE WON 4-1 !! 😍 Outstanding summer of cricket by an Aussie team battling injuries & missing stars. Thanks for coming England.. always a pleasure! #Ashes #AUSvENG
— ktrimpie (@ktrimpie) January 8, 2026
Well done Australia, 4-1 is comprehensive despite wobbles at the end. We’ve got selection issues to sort out but if you’d been offered 4-1 at the start of the Ashes given the anxiety about our chances, not to mention the stars we’ve done it without, you’d have taken it. 👍#Ashes pic.twitter.com/PYtrYH2wdH
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) January 8, 2026
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