Australia burst into celebration after beating England by a big margin on the final day of the last Test to seal a commanding Ashes series victory.
Regular captain Pat Cummins is still undergoing rehabilitation after injury and even spent some time on commentary duties on the final day. But that did not keep him away from the celebrations. Acting captain Steven Smith received the Ashes urn from legend Steve Waugh, while Cummins later joined the team festivities. Injured spinner Nathan Lyon was also present, as the entire squad came together to enjoy the moment.
Australia had already secured the series by winning the first three Tests. A defeat in the Boxing Day Test briefly disrupted their momentum, but they returned to their dominant best in Sydney. On the final day of the last Test, they beat England by five wickets to complete a memorable series triumph.
Since the introduction of the ICC World Test Championship, it has often been regarded as the World Cup of the longest format. Yet for Australia and England, the Ashes still holds a unique place, defined by history, tradition, prestige, and rivalry. Staying true to that legacy, Australia once again asserted their superiority, closing the series with a convincing 4–1 victory.
Amid the celebrations, there was also an emotional farewell. This match marked the final day of Usman Khawaja’s 15-year Test career. He could not make a significant contribution in his last innings, but the crowd gave him a standing ovation. With applause from teammates and opponents alike, Khawaja raised his bat, bowed in prayer on the field, and walked off for the final time.
The outcome of the match was largely decided on the fourth day. England’s hopes stayed alive thanks to a superb knock from Jacob Bethell, who played brilliantly for his maiden Test century and went on to cross 150. Despite his effort, England could not push on much further as a team. On the final day, they added only 40 runs for their last two wickets.
Chasing a target of 160, Australia started aggressively but lost wickets at regular intervals. Even then, they never appeared under serious pressure. Despite losing five wickets, they scored at over five runs per over and wrapped up the chase in the second session.
England began the final day at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 302 for 8. Australia took the new ball after five overs, and it did not take long for the end to come. Mitchell Starc, who produced an outstanding and almost superhuman bowling performance throughout the series, once again stole the show by taking the final two wickets.
Bethell, who resumed on 142, was dismissed for 154 while attempting a cut shot, caught by the wicketkeeper. Last man Josh Tongue then offered a catch at extra cover to end England’s innings.
In the chase, Travis Head and Jake Weatherald raced to 62 runs inside the first 10 overs. Their partnership was broken when Head was dismissed for 29 off 35 balls. Weatherald followed soon after, scoring 35 off 40 deliveries. He finished his debut series with 201 runs from five Tests, now awaiting future opportunities.
Marnus Labuschagne looked eager to finish the game quickly but was run out after scoring 37 off 40 balls. First-innings centurion Steven Smith was bowled for 12 by a superb delivery from Will Jacks.
In his final Test innings, Khawaja managed only six runs before being bowled by Josh Tongue. His Test career ended with 6,229 runs from 88 matches at an average of 42.95.
Alex Carey and Cameron Green then wasted no time in taking Australia home. Carey, who impressed throughout the series both behind and in front of the stumps, struck the boundary that sealed both the match and the series.
Australia achieved this dominant victory despite several key absences. Cummins played only one Test, Lyon featured in just two, and one of their leading bowlers, Josh Hazlewood, missed the entire series. Even acting captain Smith sat out one Test. Yet Australia’s dominance in the Ashes was once again clear. They have not lost an Ashes series since 2015.
The final talking point was the Player of the Series award. In a series dominated by bowlers, Travis Head stood out with 629 runs at an average of 62.90 and an extraordinary strike rate of 87.36. No other batter scored more than 400 runs. Mitchell Starc produced a remarkable bowling display, finishing the series with 31 wickets—his first time taking more than 25 wickets in a single series. No other bowler managed more than 22.
It was a close contest between the two stars. Head was named Player of the Match for scores of 163 and 29, while Starc, with 31 wickets and 156 runs, ultimately claimed the Compton–Miller Trophy as Player of the Series.
Australia’s next Test series will be against Bangladesh, though fans will have to wait until August for that contest.
Brief scores
- England 1st innings: 384
- Australia 1st innings: 567
- England 2nd innings: 342
- Australia 2nd innings (target 160): 161/5 in 31.2 overs
(Head 29, Weatherald 40, Labuschagne 37, Smith 12, Khawaja 6, Carey 16*, Green 22*; Carse 8-0-51-0, Tongue 11-0-42-3, Bethell 3-0-16-0, Jacks 6.2-1-42-1, Root 3-1-6-0)
Result: Australia won by 5 wickets
Series: Australia won the five-match series 4–1
Player of the Match: Travis Head
Player of the Series: Mitchell Starc
