Australia they closed the order Ash campaign with a five-wicket win over England In the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), they secured the series 4–1. In a day filled with emotion and high drama, the home side successfully chased down a target of 160, although not without a thrilling scare from the English bowlers.
Australia were fired up to chase down the target
Going into the final day needing 160 to win, Australia were 62/0 ahead of the England-led bowlers. Josh Dil (3/42), caused a mini collapse. Dismissal of openers Head of Travis (29) and Jake Weatherald (34) led to a flurry of wickets which saw the hosts slip to 125/5.
However, Alex Carey and Cameron Green steadied the ship by taking Australia home in the afternoon session. Carey drove the winning runs through the covers to seal the match and mark 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 last Test appearance for the veteran player Osman Khawaja. The SCG crowd rose to their feet as Khawaja accepted the England guard of honor and went to bat in the second innings. Although his last stay at the crease was brief (6 runs), his contributions to Australian cricket were widely celebrated throughout the match.
Jacob Bethel’s heroics in vain
Although England lost the match, they found a new star at the age of 22 Jacob Bethell. With the visitors staring at an innings defeat on Day 3, Bethell staged a stunning counter-attack and scored his maiden Test century (154). His marathon knock, including a string of boundaries against an aging ball, forced Australia to bat again and ensured the contest went deep into Day 5.
England’s first innings was a glorious 160 Joe Rootbut he was overshadowed by Australia’s first-innings monster total of 567, driven by centuries from the start (163). Steve Smith (138).
Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Series for his consistent run of goals throughout the summer, while Head collected the Man of the Match award for his game-setting first-innings century.
Short points: 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, Jacha3, Ja373; Weatherald 34; Josh Tongue 3/97, 3/42) by 5 the doors. Australia won the Ashes series 4-1.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
England had a lot of chances in this series but they basically lost to a better cricket team.. Not the best series I have seen but it was very entertaining.. #Ash
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 8, 2026
Alex Carey hits the winning streak as Australia claim a 4-1 series win.#Ash | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/SfFwXWibrn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2026
Australia won the Ashes 4-1 without Cummins (played 1 test), Hazlewood and Lyon.
Well done Australia 👏👏
Congratulations @Uz_Khawaja in a wonderful career👏👏
There was a bright display from England but not enough to compete or win the test series.
Loading…— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 8, 2026
Complete list of Australians with 30+ wickets and 150+ runs in Ashes series:
George Giffen, 1894/95
Ranji Hordern, 1911/12
Dennis Lille, 1981
Shane Warne, 2005
Mitchell Johnson, 2013/14
Mitchell Starc, 2025/26#Ash— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) January 7, 2026
🚨 ASHES OF AUSTRALIA WON 4-1. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/omhDkpWBJo
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 8, 2026
Mitchell Starc’s gold #Ash completed:
31 wickets at 19.93. 2x 5fas.
One of four international players to score 30+ goals in a row since 2013. @SEN_Cricket @1116sen
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) January 8, 2026
Not a perfect end for Khawaja, but the SCG still rose as a fitting end to a remarkable career. #Ash pic.twitter.com/phFR2R4Ysl
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 8, 2026
🚨 WRITTEN HISTORY OF THE STAR 🚨
– Mitchell Starc has the best strike rate in history in an Ashes series, 30 thousand wickets. 😱 pic.twitter.com/MxnooX4lpi
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 8, 2026
It must be very disappointing for this excellent Australian side that snicko means another Ashes series Down Under is cancelled.
— Adam Sutherland (@AdamSants_) January 8, 2026
31 wickets in just 5 matches, Mitchell Starc was on another level in this Ashes series. A truly worthy player of the series 🌟#MitchellStarc #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/ReHPgKGYMW
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 8, 2026
OFF 4-1 win 👏
Won the 2017-18 Ashes
2019 Saved
2021-22 Reserved
2023 Saved
2025-26 RetainedNo Hazlewood
A Test of Cummins
Smith missed the exam
Lyon is injured
Opener on debut
Fast bowler on debut
2 fast bowlers were recalled after 3 and 4 years🏏 #Ash
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) January 8, 2026
Congratulations to Australia on their 4-1 series win. Great character and fight shown by England.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) January 8, 2026
Australia won the 2025/26 Ashes series (4–1)
They continue their dominance. 🏏🔥Ashes series history
35 – From Won*
32 – Eng Winner
7 – drawn#AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/e21XlVSZo9— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 8, 2026
4-1.
That’s quite a scoreline for the “weakest” Australian team hosting the “strongest” England team to play The Ashes on Australian soil. #Ashes— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 8, 2026
Starc’s 31 wickets are 6 times more than 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. Correct result. The Aussies aren’t perfect, but they had all-time great performances from Head and Starc, while Carey and Boland were also excellent. England were by no means unprepared and their method was exposed.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 8, 2026
WE WON 4-1!! 😍 A great summer of cricket from an Australian team battling injuries and missing stars. Thanks for coming to England.. always a pleasure! #Ash #AUSvENG
— ktrimpie (@ktrimpie) January 8, 2026
Well Australia are all-rounders despite swinging at the 4-1 end. We have selection issues to sort out, but given our concerns about our chances at the start of the Ashes, if you were offered 4-1, you’d take it, minus the stars. 👍#Ash pic.twitter.com/PYtrYH2wdH
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) January 8, 2026
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