Australia an order has been terminated ash campaign with a five-wicket win England In the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the series was clinched 4โ1. In a day full of emotions and heavy drama, the hosts successfully chased down the target of 160, although not without a strong scare from the English bowlers.
Australia showed courage to chase the target
At the start of the final day, 160 runs were needed to win, but Australia were seen hovering at 62/0 against the English bowlers. passion tongue (3/42), giving rise to a mini-collapse. dismissal of openers travis head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34) followed with a flurry of wickets as the hosts slipped to 125/5.
However, alex carey And cameron green Steady the ship to sail home to Australia in the afternoon session. Carey hit the winning run through cover, sealing the match and ending a successful home summer for the World Test Champions.
Usman Khawaja’s emotional SCG swan song
This match holds special significance as it was the last Test match for the experienced opening batsman Usman KhawajaWhen Khawaja came out to bat in the second innings, the SCG crowd stood up and he received a guard of honor from the England team, Although his final stay at the crease was brief (6 runs), his contribution to Australian cricket was widely celebrated throughout the match,
Jacob Bethel’s bravery in vain
While England lost the match, they got a new star in the 22-year-old jacob bethelOn the third day, when the visiting team was on the verge of an innings defeat, Bethel made a brilliant counter-attack and scored his first Test century (154), His marathon innings, which included a volley of boundaries against the old ball, forced Australia to bat again and ensured the contest lasted into the fifth day,
England’s first innings rested on a huge score of 160 runs. Joe RootBut with the help of centuries from Head (163) and K, Australia’s score of 567 runs in the first innings was overshadowed. steve smith (138).
Mitchell Starc He was named Player of the Series for his consistent wicket-taking throughout the summer, while Head received the Player of the Match award for his explosive century in the first innings, which set up the game.
Brief Score: England 384 and 342 (Joe Root 160, Ben Duckett 52; Jacob Bethel 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 4โ1.
Here’s how fans reacted:
England had a lot of chances in this series but basically they have lost to a better cricket team.. Not the highest quality series I have seen but it has been very entertaining.. #ash
– Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 8 January 2026
Alex Carey scored the winning runs and Australia won the series 4โ1.#ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/SfFwXWibrn
โ cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 8 January 2026
Australia won the Ashes 4โ1 without Cummins (played 1 Test), Hazlewood and Lyon.
Well done Australia๐๐
Congratulations @Uz_Khwaja On a wonderful career๐๐
There were glimpses of England’s talent, but not enough to compete or win the Test series below.
Burden…– Ashwin ๐ฎ๐ณ (@ashwinravi99) 8 January 2026
Complete list of Australian players who have taken 30+ wickets and 150+ runs in an Ashes series:
George Giffen, 1894/95
Ranji Hordern, 1911/12
Dennis Lillee, 1981
Shane Warne, 2005
Michelle Johnson, 2013/14
Mitchell Starc, 2025/26#ash– Nick Savage (@nic_savage1) 7 January 2026
Australia won the Ashes 4-1. pic.twitter.com/omhDkpWBJo
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 8 January 2026
Mitchell Starc’s golden #ash Ready:
31 wickets at an average of 19.93. 2x 5fas.
One of four international players to take 30+ wickets in a series since 2013. @SEN_Cricket @1116sen
– Tom Morris (@tommorris32) 8 January 2026
It wasn’t exactly the perfect ending for Khawaja, but the SCG nevertheless emerged as a venue for a fitting end to a remarkable career. #ash pic.twitter.com/phFR2R4Ysl
– Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) 8 January 2026
๐จStark Written History๐จ
โ Mitchell Starc has the best strike rate in Ashes series in history, minimum 30 wickets. pic.twitter.com/MxnooX4lpi
– Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) 8 January 2026
It must have been extremely disappointing for this excellent Australian team that the snicko meant another Ashes series would have to be cancelled.
– Adam Sutherland (@AdamSents_) 8 January 2026
With 31 wickets in just 5 matches, Mitchell Starc was second to none in this Ashes series. Really deserving player of the series๐#michaelstark #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/ReHPgKGYMW
โ CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 8 January 2026
Australia won 4-1
2017-18 Ashes won
2019 retained
2021-22 retained
2023 retained
2025-26 retainedno hazelwood
cummins one test
Smith missed a test
Lyon injured
opener on debut
fast bowler on debut
Return of 2 fast bowlers after 3 and 4 years– Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) 8 January 2026
Congratulations to Australia on winning the series 4-1. Great character and fight shown by England.
– Prasanna (@prasannalara) 8 January 2026
Australia won the 2025/26 Ashes series (4-1)
Maintained its dominance.History of Ashes Series
35-Australian Won*
32 – England won
7- drawn#AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/e21XlVSZo9– ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ (@Shebas_10dulkar) 8 January 2026
4-1.
That’s quite a scoreline for the ‘weakest’ Australian team to face the ‘strongest’ English team to play the Ashes on Australian soil. #ashโ Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 8 January 2026
The 31 wickets taken by Starc in the series are 6 wickets more than the most wickets taken by Broad or Anderson in a series in their career.
– Dave (@Mesut_Ausil) 8 January 2026
Australia won the fifth Test by five wickets and won the Ashes 4โ1. Correct result. The Australian team was far from perfection but Head and Starc produced all-time great performances, while Carey and Boland were also excellent. England were not prepared at any level and their method was found.
– Will MacPherson (@willis_macp) 8 January 2026
We won 4-1!! ๐ฅ An excellent summer of cricket from an Australian team battling injuries and missing stars. Thanks for visiting England..always a pleasure! #ash #AUSvENG
– ktrimpie (@ktrimpie) 8 January 2026
Well done Australia, a comprehensive 4-1 despite a wobble at the end. We have selection issues to sort out, but if you had been offered 4-1 at the start of the Ashes given the concern about our chances, not to mention the stars we have made it without, you would have taken it.#ash pic.twitter.com/PYtrYH2wdH
– Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) 8 January 2026
Also read: Harry Brook, Yashasvi Jaiswal or Rachin Ravindra? Mark Waugh names the next greatest Test batsman
