SYDNEY: Australia completed a five-wicket win over England in the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, sealing a 4–1 series victory on Thursday. Chasing a modest target of 160, Australia had a few nervous moments but reached the total before tea on the final day. Alex Carey and Cameron Green guided the hosts home after England’s Josh Tongue took 3-42 in a spirited final effort.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith praised the team’s all-round performance throughout the series, saying Australia consistently delivered in key moments. England showed more fight than in previous end-of-series Tests in Australia, but the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes as a bowler made defending the target difficult on a good batting surface.Earlier, England were bowled out for 342 in their second innings after resuming at 302-8. Mitchell Starc starred again, finishing with 3-72 and ending the series with 31 wickets, earning him Player of the Series honors.
Australia’s dominance across the five matches was clear, with wins in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney. England’s only victory came in Melbourne, their first Test win in Australia since 2011. Despite the loss, the Ashes series attracted record crowds, with more than 211,000 fans attending across five days in Sydney, highlighting the enduring popularity of Test cricket’s most famous rivalry.
