Sydney, Jan 8 (UNI) Australia wrapped up a commanding 4-1 Ashes series victory with a five-wicket win over England in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, underlining their dominance across the summer.
Chasing a target of 160 on the final day, Australia reached 161 for five in 31.2 overs, with Alex Carey striking the winning boundary to seal the match and the series.
Earlier, England were dismissed for 342 in their second innings, despite a heroic 154 from Jacob Bethell, who earned a standing ovation for his marathon knock. Mitchell Starc delivered the decisive blow once again, finishing the series with 31 wickets as England’s last man Josh Tongue was caught at wide mid-off by Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia’s chase was briefly unsettled by the dismissals of Usman Khawaja (6), Steve Smith (12) and Labuschagne (37), but Cameron Green’s (22*) fluent strokeplay and Carey’s (16*) composure ensured there were no late alarms. Head was named Player of the Match for his impact in the Test, while Starc was adjudged Player of the Series for his sustained excellence with the ball.
The series had been effectively decided much earlier, with Australia retaining the Ashes inside 11 days by winning the first three Tests.
In the opening Test at Perth, played on a spicy surface, England were bowled out for 172 on the first day as Starc ran through the visitors with a seven-wicket haul.
Despite England briefly gaining the upper hand after taking a first-innings lead, their aggressive batting approach backfired in the second innings. An injury to Khawaja forced Australia to open with Travis Head, a move that transformed the series. Head smashed a 69-ball century and Australia went 1-0 up inside two days.
The second Test at Brisbane saw Starc continue his love affair with the pink ball, claiming six wickets on the opening day. Joe Root registered his maiden Test hundred in Australia, but England’s fielding let them down as they dropped five catches and allowed Australia to build a decisive 177-run lead.
England briefly delayed defeat through a more conservative approach from Will Jacks and Ben Stokes, but a fiery duel between Jofra Archer and Smith ended in Australia’s favour as the hosts went 2-0 up.
In the third Test at Adelaide, Pat Cummins returned as captain while Smith missed out, prompting Khawaja’s recall. Although Archer picked up a five-wicket haul, Carey stole the spotlight with a brilliant counterattacking century.
England fought back from 168 for eight in their first innings, thanks to Stokes’ slowest Test fifty and Archer’s maiden fifty, but a decisive 162-run stand between Head and Carey in the second innings set England a target in excess of 400. The visitors battled but fell short as Australia’s senior bowlers shared the wickets to make it 3-0.
England finally avoided a whitewash in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Although the Ashes were already lost, Stokes promised a strong response and England delivered.
On a green MCG pitch, Josh Tongue claimed a five-wicket haul as Australia were bowled out for 152, while England themselves were skittled for 110 in a frenetic contest.
Despite being a bowler short, England dismissed Australia again for 132 and then chased down the modest target to end an 18-match winless streak in Tests in Australia. The match, played on a surface with heavy grass cover, drew criticism of batting techniques and temperament from both sides.
Australia, however, regained control in Sydney to emphatically close out the series. With dominant performances from Starc, Head and Carey, the hosts once again asserted their supremacy at home, while England were left to reflect on moments of promise overshadowed by inconsistency across a demanding five-Test Ashes campaign.
Australia clinch Ashes 4-1 with five-wicket win in Sydney
