Australia Clinches Ashes Series with Final Test Victory Over England

Australia Secures Ashes Title

After navigating through some challenging moments, Australia triumphed over England by five wickets in the fifth and final Test match held here on Thursday, thereby claiming the Ashes series 4-1. Despite England's impressive first innings total of 384 runs, highlighted by Jacob Bethel's 154 runs, they were bowled out for 342 in their second innings on the final day of the match.

Match Highlights

Having established a lead of 183 runs with a first innings score of 567, Australia needed 160 runs for victory. Tension mounted as wickets fell rapidly, compounded by a controversial DRS review, but Alex Carey secured the winning runs, guiding Australia to 161 runs for the loss of five wickets in just 31.2 overs. Carey remained unbeaten on 16 runs, while Cameron Green contributed 22 runs.

Farewell to Khawaja

This match marked the final Test appearance for the 39-year-old Usman Khawaja, who retired on a high note. Australia had already clinched the Ashes by winning the first three Tests, while England managed to secure a victory in the fourth Test played in Melbourne. Throughout the series, Australia showcased strong performances across all departments, with Mitchell Starc taking 31 wickets, Travis Head scoring three centuries and accumulating 629 runs, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey achieving 28 dismissals.

Smith Reflects on Team Performance

Steve Smith, who captained Australia in four out of five Tests due to Pat Cummins' injury, expressed satisfaction with the team's contributions, stating, 'It has been fantastic. Everyone has played a significant role. Stark, Head, and Carey were particularly impressive, but other players also stepped up at various times, which is the hallmark of a good team.'

Khawaja's Emotional Exit

Khawaja came to the crease after Smith was dismissed for 12 runs by Will Jacks, with Australia at three wickets for 92 runs. As he walked to the pitch, England players gave him a guard of honor. After shaking hands with England captain Ben Stokes and embracing teammate Marnus Labuschagne, Khawaja opened his account with a boundary and added two more runs before being dismissed for just six runs in his final innings. He knelt and kissed the ground in front of a sign that read 'Thank You Uzi' before leaving the field for the last time after 88 Test matches.

Final Moments of the Match

Following Khawaja's departure, Labuschagne was run out for 37 runs after a mix-up with Carey. At that point, Australia was at five wickets for 121 runs, but Carey and Green ensured the team reached the target. Smith remarked, 'Considering the World Test Championship, we understand the importance of every Test match, so winning here and finishing the series on a high note is incredibly satisfying.' England's captain, Ben Stokes, acknowledged the difficulty of accepting the loss, stating, 'We could have performed better. Australia played well in every match, but honestly, we share some responsibility for our defeat.'

England's Second Innings

Earlier, England resumed their second innings on the fifth day at 302 runs for eight wickets and added just 40 runs before losing their last two wickets. Starc ended England's innings by dismissing Bethel and Tong (06). Starc was named Player of the Series. Australia started their second innings aggressively, scoring 10 runs in the first over, including two boundaries from Head, who scored 29 runs before being caught near the boundary.

Controversial DRS Decisions

Head, who scored 163 runs in the first innings, was named Player of the Match. His opening partner, Jake Weatherald, received a reprieve on 16 runs due to a controversial DRS decision before scoring 34 runs. The DRS system did not favor England on the final day either. When Australia was at 33 runs without loss, Weatherald attempted a shot off Brydon Carse's delivery and was caught by the wicketkeeper, but the appeal was turned down by umpire Ahsan Raza. England opted for DRS, which suggested a faint edge, but the TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena found insufficient evidence to overturn the decision, leaving England players stunned.

Record Attendance

Stokes calmly approached the umpire to discuss the decision-making process as the game continued. The fifth Test match attracted a total attendance of 211,032 over five days, setting a record for the Sydney Cricket Ground.