As it happened: Australia win Ashes 4-1 in historic Sydney Test

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Day Five Recap

And that's a wrap on the Ashes!

As the 2025/26 series comes to an end, Australia walk away 4-1 victors in a series that may not have been as tightly contested as hoped, but still provided plenty of entertainment, highlights, and iconic moments.

Day Five kicked off with England building on their lead with Jacob Bethell at the crease. England's new hero would end his innings on 154 as England posted Australia a chase of 160 for the win.

For the most part, Australia seemed like they'd cruise to the total.

Disaster struck early when Travis Head was dismissed, followed by Jake Weatherald just before Lunch.

Steve Smith was bowled by one of the balls of the series as Will Jacks proved there was a place for spin at the SCG, splitting bat and pad.

Usman Khawaja walked out for one final team, greeted by a guard of honour from the English players and umpires, before departing shortly after for 6.

Marnus Labuschagne was involved in a terrible run-out as Australia's chase got nervy, but while Cam Green and Alex Carey nearly got themselves out multiple times, the two would see out the innings; Alex Carey hitting the winning boundary to cap off an extraordinary series for the keeper.

Mitch Starc was named Player of the Series while Travis Head was awarded Player of the Match as Australia walked away 4-1 victors of the Ashes.

4:04pm - Travis Head on if he'll continue opening

Travis Head joined SEN after winning Player of the Match to discuss where his future lies in the batting order beyond the Ashes.

Head planned to bat at five through the Ashes but was thrown into the opening position in the first Test after Usman Khawaja's injury.

For the short-term, Head seems certain to remain at the top of the order. However, only he knows where he'll remain beyond there.

"I've enjoyed the challenge (opening)," Head told SEN Cricket.

"If that is the case moving forward, I'd be more than happy to do it.

"If you were picking the team tomorrow, I'd be opening the batting, but we've got 7-8 months to worry about that."

3:43pm - Fleming: Head is a matchwinner

With Travis Head's player of the match award, it marks the eleventh time the opener has won the award in Test cricket.

Head averaged 62.9 runs across 10 innings in the Ashes, accounting for 47% of all runs scored by an opener during the series.

"(Travis) Head's a match winner like we've never ever had," Fleming said on SEN Cricket

"Not Gilly (Gilchrist), not Warney (Warne), not McGrath, so Head's in rarefied air there, but he went that extra dominant test.

"Normally there's two for the summer... he was better than that.

"He's gone bang in the last test and averaged over 60, and his character's important because there is a little bit of that Boony (David Boon) celebration to him which the punters absolutely love."

3:20pm - Starc has no plans to retire

Mitchell Starc has spoken to SEN after being named Player of the Series, revealing he has no plans to give Test cricket away in the immediate future.

"I obviously haven't had a chance to think of it yet," Starc told SEN, "I think just putting on a baggy green is incentive enough to keep going.

"While I'm still be able to play a role in this group, and I feel like I can contribute in major ways, I'd love to keep going out there and emptying the tank for the team.

"Without T20 cricket now, I've got a chance just to sit back and reflect on a few weeks, maybe rebuild the body a little bit, and go again.

"I'll sit back and watch the women's team do their thing against India and see the guys do their stuff over in India as well.

"I think there's been so much made of the age profile. Sport's changed, life's changed.

"There's no reason guys can't go longer or there's no end date on people.

"As I said, while you're contributing, or while you're in the best group of players, why do you have to put a cap on a guy or a girl, if you're a certain age?"

2:56 - Steve Waugh hands over the crystal urn to Pat Cummins

And the SCG is awash in green and gold streamers with Steve Smith and Pat Cummins lifting as one.

2:54pm - Starc: "We haven't just used 11 players."

After being named Player of the Series, Mitchell Starc has paid credit to the wider Australian squad for their roles in securing the series victory.

“It's a great group to be a part of, it's a lot of fun, especially when you've got Travis (Head) at the top there and in the change room, so it's been a great group to be a part of and I'm just glad to be playing a role,” Starc said.

“Scotty (Boland) and I are on the older side of things, but we still managed to get the job done, so, between Scotty, Ness (Neser) and I… to play the roles that we did, we're a bit tired and sore.

“We haven't used just 11 players. Between the players and the staff, it's been a long series, but obviously very fruitful and enjoyable to be a part of.”

2:47pm - Mitch Starc wins the Compton-Miller Medal

With 31 wickets, the left armer from New South Wales has picked up the player of the series award.

He becomes the second Australian bowler to win the medal since it began in 2005 joining Mitchell Johnson with his iconic 2013/14 performance.

2:46pm - Travis Head claims the Man of the Match

With a powerful knock of 163, Travis Head wins the Man of the Match.

It's the first time he has picked up the achievement this series.

2:45pm - Khawaja: I'll cherish this for the rest of my life

A grateful Usman Khawaja has reflected on his career after his final Test.

“It's just tough, so much has gone into it, so long and it's funny, the game of cricket is so great… to be honest, the only thing I want is (to) finish off the Ashes with a win," Khawaja said.

“I'd love nothing more, and as much as I wanted to go out there and score runs and hit the winning runs, I'm just so grateful for one last final win and to celebrate with my teammates.

“I was trying to act cool, but the whole test match, I found it really hard to control my emotions and I think I've prided myself on being able to control my emotions my whole career… I found it really hard to concentrate a lot, even in the first innings.

“I found it hard to get into rhythm, and even today, my whole career, particularly the last end, has been built on process, process, process.

“I'm glad we got the win, got over the line, and, it's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life, being able to finish here at the SCG.

“I'm so grateful to have the career I've had and I can just finally just relax, not worrying about getting out in the morning.”

“It's full gratitude. I think a lot of times in life we worry about what we want, or we always want more. It's all about what else can we have, my whole week has all been about just being grateful.

“If I get 2 ducks or they get 200, just be grateful for what you've been given.

“The hallowed turf at SCG… it was one final thank you from me for everything I've been given.”

2:36pm - Whateley: Australia has dismantled the Bazball fandom

Whateley: "That's going to do it."

"It will roll out to the boundary and complete a thumping triumph for Australia."

"4-1, a comprehensive defence of the Ashes at home and a thorough dismantling of the Bazball fandom."

2:29pm - AUSTRALIA WINS THE 5TH TEST

Australia 5/161 - Carey 16, Green 22

And with a boundary from Alex Carey, the Australians have claimed victory at the SCG by five wickets.

It sees the hosts win the series 4-1, having been without their premier bowlers in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon for the majority if not the entire series.

2:27pm - Australia within a shot of a Test win

Australia 5/157 - Carey 12, Green 22

Make that three runs to get with another four from Green.

2:25pm - Aussies enter single digits

Australia 5/153 - Carey 12, Green 18

With that beautifully punched shot for four by Cameron Green, the hosts only need seven more runs to claim victory in Sydney.

The only question that remains is who gets to hit the winning runs?

2:16pm - Australia somehow survives run out scare

Australia 5/144 - Carey 11, Green 13

How did Australia not lose a wicket there?

There was plenty of confusion between Alex Carey and Cam Green, with both at one point having gone to the same end.

But they manage to get back and survive for another day.

They only need 16 runs to get to victory. If they can both keep their composure, they should get there within the hour.

2:13pm - Series attendance gets announced

Australia 5/140 - Carey 10, Green 11

Cricket Australia has just confirmed that 859,580 people have attended this Ashes series.

And with Melbourne only going two days, it means that the Adelaide Test was the most well attended out of the five with 223,638 people.

2:06pm - Who does Stuart Broad have for the player of the series?

Australia 5/138 - Carey 9, Green 10

Stuart Broad has given his take on who should win the Compton-Miller Medal for the player of the series.

Broad: "Mitchell Starc."

"He's led a bowling attack without Pat Cummins for the majority (of the series), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon."

"He's got 31 wickets in the series. At crucial times, he's set the tone."

"He's gotten Crawley for a pair in Perth to set the tone in the series.

"Duckett in the first over at the Gabba, Crawley in the first over here (the SCG) in the last innings."

"He's got an amazing ability to break partnerships, and one of his most crucial contributions to the series was his batting at the Gabba to get Australia (bowling) under the lights."

1:51pm - WICKET - Labuschagne

Australia 5/121 - Carey 2, Green 0

Surely England can't win from here...right?

Australia has now lost their second wicket in as many overs.

This time, Marnus Labuschagne looked for a quick single to mid off.

But with Alex Carey holding his ground, the Queenslander was sent back with Matthew Potts throwing the ball to the strikers' end to see Labuschagne out for 37.

The game is well and truly alive.

1:45pm - WICKET - Khawaja

Australia 4/119 - Labuschagne 37, Carey 0

We don't quite get the fairytale ending with Khawaja hitting the winning runs, but Usman gets sent off as a champion of Australian cricket.

The 39-year-old chopped the ball back onto his own stumps, which sees him only add six runs.

That brings the end of a 15-year career, which has seen plenty of ups and downs.

But each time, he came back stronger and that in itself is quite the achievement.

1:39pm - England drops another chance

Australia 3/107 - Labuschagne 25, Khawaja 6

And England has dropped another catch in the space of two overs.

It was definitely a harder catch with the ball going above Jacob Bethell's head, who was at full stretch at gully.

But he couldn't bring it down, which saw the ball drop out.

1:34pm - Almost curtains on Khawaja

Australia 3/102 - Labuschagne 20, Khawaja 6

Usman Khawaja lives to see some more deliveries with Will Jacks nearly taking his second wicket of the innings.

The 39-year-old has somehow threaded the needle between Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes at first slip to see the ball trickle towards the boundary.

He gets two runs out of it.

1:23pm - WICKET - Smith

Australia 3/92 - Labuschagne 16, Khawaja 0

Will Jacks has bowled the ball of his career to see Steve Smith depart for just 12 runs.

The batting all-rounder with his off-break has managed to spin the ball through Smith's bat and pad, and it clatters into the stumps.

It now brings out the retiring Usman Khawaja to the crease, who gets a rousing applause for his last at bat for Australia.

And England has formed a guard of honour to pay their respects.

1:15pm - Marnus goes BIG

Australia 2/83 - Labuschagne 15, Smith 4

What a six from Marnus Labuschagne!

The Queenslander has sent the ball right into the Barmy Army for Australia's first six of the innings.

They want to wrap this up quickly.

1:09pm - The second session is about to get underway

Australia 2/71 - Labuschagne 7, Smith 0

Josh Tongue is waiting down at the Paddington End to get the second session underway.

The Aussies are now just 89 runs away from a 4-1 series win.

You'd think they get there well before Tea.

12:49pm - Who should be player of the series?

Discussion is heating up around who should be the Ashes Player of the Series, with Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, and Alex Carey all in the mix.

Starc has taken 31 wickets at 19.93; the first Aussie bowler to take 30 wickets in an Ashes since Mitchell Johnson in the 2013/14 Ashes series, and one of four international players to take 30+ wickets in a series since 2013.

Head has scored 629 runs, fifth most all-time by an Australian in a home series, at an average of 62.9, including three hundreds, one in Perth, one in Adelaide, and one in Sydney.

Carey has taken 28 dismissals for the series, including 27 catches and 1 stumping. It is the second-most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a series. He also made a hundred in Adelaide.

Who is your player of the series?

12:34pm - Weatherald OUT at Lunch!

Australia 2/71 - Labuschagne 7, Smith 0

Jake Weatherald is dismissed for 34 by a disappointing shot as Australia head to Lunch at 2/71.

It's a disappointing shot for Weatherald as criticism continues to mount around his position in the team.

Whateley: "That's another dismissal that sits with 'does he actually have the game for international cricket'!"

12:11 - Travis Head OUT!

Australia 1/62 - Head 29, Weatherald 32

Josh Tongue gets the wicket of Travis Head after the opener skied a delivery into the deep.

The catch taken by Brydon Carse in the deep, Australia are now 1 down as Labuschagne comes in.

Head's 29 runs takes his series total to 629, fifth all-time for most runs in an Ashes series.

12:05pm - Australia bring up 50-run milestone

Australia 0/51 - Head 24, Weatherald 26

Australia brings up the 50-run milestone in their pursuit of 160.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald are starting to get on top of Brydon Carse and the new ball, with Carse 0/30 off 6 overs.

Whateley: "That is the lamest over from an angry fast bowler you have ever seen, and the Australians take full toll of him."

11:52am - Another snicko controversy

Australia 0/34 - Head 16, Weatherald 17

Another snicko controversy for the series as Jake Weatherald is spared by the DRS and the English are fuming!

Brydon Carse marches up to the umpire wanting an explanation before Ben Stokes pulls him away.

Brydon Carse bumps Weatherald on the next ball too before going back towards the umpire at the end of the over as his team pull him away.

11:37 - Australia progressing nicely

Australia 0/26 - Head 13, Weatherald 12

Australia is progressing nicely for their target of 160, sitting at 25 after four overs.

Carse and Tongue are opening the bowling for the English, and have already used one review.

11:05 - England all out for 342

England 342

England are all out for 342 after Mitch Starc claimed the final wicket of Josh Tongue.

It means Australia need 160 to win the final Test.

Tongue is out for 6 having been caught by Marnus Labuschagne.

It's Starc's 31st wicket for the series.

10:52 - England's lead extends to 150

England 9/338 - Potts 18, Tongue 2

Matthew Potts hits back-to-back boundaries and England's lead is up over 150.

10:42am - Bethell OUT!

England 9/328 - Potts 10, Tongue 0

Mitch Starc finally gets the wicket of Jacob Bethell as his monster 154-run innings comes to an end.

It's Starc's 30th wicket of the series, with Alex Carey's catch putting him one behind the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in an Ashes.

The SCG crowd applaud Bethell as he departs, and England are now nine down.

10:30am - Bethell survives!

England 8/321 - Bethell 151, Potts 10

Jacob Bethell has survived upon review after being given out from a ripper of Scott Boland delivery.

Boland thought he had Bethell LBW; however, DRS revealed the ball going over the stumps.

Fleming: "On a regular SCG Day 5 pitch, that is hitting the middle of the stumps."

10:20am - Bethell 150!

England 8/318 - Bethell 150, Potts 8

Jacob Bethell brings up an incredible 150 and keeps England's hopes of an unlikely win alive.

It comes off 242 balls.

Whateley: "A ray of hope for England at the end of a misfiring series!"

10:05am - New record set for biggest ever SCG crowd

With 15,000 fans already in the house to kick off Day 5, this Test officially marks the biggest accumulative crowd at an SCG Test!

It's the first time an overall SCG crowd has passed over 200,000 people.

It beats the previous record of 195,253 set in a six-day Test vs England back in 1946/47.

10:00am - Play begins!

Beau Webster has the first crack at the English on Day 5 as Usman Khawaja gets to lead Australia out on his final day in international cricket!

9:53am - Broad: Stokes has earned the Australian public's respect

Stuart Broad believes Ben Stokes has gained the respect of the Australian public after a brave Ashes summer.

Stokes has been visibly frustrated throughout the Ashes following his teammates silly shots or messy bowling.

His injury on Day 4 means he is unlikely to bowl on the final day, and Broad believes this is what has won over the Aussie people.

"He's done what he needed to do in a sense that he's been a warrior on this tour," Broad said on SEN Cricket.

"He's batted and bowled his heart out, and he gets injured in the last test match... it's not like he's going to go and miss a huge amount of cricket now, get himself fit and firing for what's to come.

"I'm certain he'll be Test captain going into the English summer. I don't see any need to change but he's been a warrior on the field for his whole Test match career.

"I think he'll leave Australia probably for the last time in Ashes cricket with the Australian public having huge respect for how he goes about his business.

"He's not had the greatest tour with the bat, but he gives his heart and soul every single time, and Australians respect that."

9:45am - Do Australia deserve a 4-1 series victory?

As we enter the final day of the Ashes, Australia seems in the box seat to wrap up a 4-1 series victory, but do they deserve it?

Katich: "We probably deserved to win 5-0.

"Melbourne could've gone the other way too on another occasion, but in terms of when you analyse everything, in terms of the process, Australia have completely dismantled this England unit, and, and they're going to go away thinking we're a long way from where they are, and that's not even their best team.

"That's the scary thing from England's perspective, they're so far off the mark, it's not funny."

9:30am - State of play

England 8/302 - Bethell 142, Potts 0

England head to the crease to start Day 5 on 8/302 with Jacob Bethell the hero at the crease.

Bethell produced an extraordinary knock to bring up a maiden first class century; the first specialist English batter to score a maiden century in the Test arena.

Beau Webster was the hero with the ball for the Aussies, taking 3/51, and proving there is a place for the specialist spinner at the SCG and in Australia.

The English currently hold a lead of 119 and will be needing likely 200 runs to put the pressure on Australia and their final day run chase.

With players with plenty to prove from both the Aussie batters and English paceman, there's a lot riding on this final innings for both nations.

Today also marks an official end to Usman Khawaja's Test career, though it is yet to be seen if the Aussie veteran will be given a farewell at the crease.

Follow along with SEN all day as we cover the final day of the 2025/26 Ashes!