The Ashes 2025-26 series It reached an exciting climax at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), providing a masterclass in Test match theatre. Englanddespite already conceding the urn, he arrived in Sydney with a point to prove after a dramatic Boxing Day win in Melbourne. The match was a topsy-turvy battle of wills: England were all out for 384 in the first innings. Australia‘s massive 567 but the visitors found a second wind on day 4. Powered by Jacob Bethell‘s sustained 142, England fought back at 302/8 at stumps, carving out a slim but psychologically significant lead of 119 runs. With just two wickets remaining and the pitch beginning to show the characteristic wear and tear of the SCG deck on day five, the stage is set for the final day’s toss, where momentum could swing by a single wicket.
Ashes 2025-26: Alastair Cook puts England’s defense on target to beat Australia on Day 5 of the Sydney Test
At the end of the 4th day, the former England captain Sir Alastair Cook sat down with TNT Sports to analyze the narrow path to victory for Ben Stokes‘ men. Cook dismissed the possibility of a draw, noting that the fast nature of the game and the deterioration of the surface almost determined the outcome. He argued that on a fifth-day pitch, a rarity in modern Test cricket where games are often over sooner, even a modest target can be insurmountable if England strike early.
“I don’t think a draw is possible because there’s a lot of cricket to go. However, we don’t get that very often about the 4th innings of the 5th day – usually in a test match with 3 or 4 days of cricket, the pitch is pretty good. We could see this pitch getting worse. 6 wickets to go, they can get 220. So 160 is possible to defend. If you get early Australian wickets, it’s possible.” Cook said.
Cook’s analysis highlighted that fifth-day chase pressure in Australia is uniquely difficult. He suggested that if England’s tail can swing enough to push the lead past 150, “the outside chance” becomes a very real threat for the Australian batsmen.
Also WATCH: Ashes 2025-26: Jamie Smith’s brain fade ends with a comical run by Jake Weatherald on Day 4 at the SCG.
Ashes 2025-26: Cook identifies specific wickets England must claim to cause Australia’s collapse
In the final part of his analysis, Cook identified the specific wickets that England had to claim in order to bring about Australia’s collapse. He clarified Head of Travis the ultimate accolade, noting that his aggressive style was the engine of Australia’s “flying starts”. Without happening to take the game, Cook believes that England’s bowlers can create a sense of panic that has been absent for most of the series.
“England in particular need to get Travis Head off. They get Travis Head off, Australia can’t get off to a flying start, they can be 30/3 all of a sudden. One or two burst, Steve Smith is stuck in a groove where he can’t play and then suddenly you can believe it. We’ve seen so many matches in the past where it’s hard for an England specialist to score here in Australia. They’d have loved it, but they’ve given themselves an outside chance, outside of chance, so never you won’t know.” Cook concluded.
Cook concluded by admitting that while England were disadvantaged by the lack of a spinner in the front line to exploit the SCG cracks, the psychological weight of the Ashes meant that belief was often stronger than technical advantage. If England can find a way to dismiss Smith and Head cheaply, the SCG could witness one of the greatest last-day runs in Ashes history.
Also READ: Fans celebrate in jubilation as Jacob Bethell brings up his maiden century in an SCG Test
