Australia Triumphs Over England in Final Ashes Test at Sydney

Australia Clinches Ashes Series with Final Test Victory

In a thrilling conclusion to the Ashes series, Australia secured a five-wicket victory against England, led by Ben Stokes, in the fifth and final Test held at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8. This win allowed Australia to dominate the five-match series with a 4-1 scoreline.

Throughout the series, Australia achieved victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, while England managed to bounce back with a notable win in Melbourne.

During the Sydney Test, Australian captain Steve Smith and Travis Head both delivered outstanding performances, scoring centuries in the first innings. Meanwhile, bowlers Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland excelled in both innings against the English side.

England fought valiantly, with Joe Root scoring a century in the first innings and Jacob Bethell marking his first First-Class hundred in the second innings.

As Day 5 commenced, Australia was positioned at 71/2, needing 71 runs to secure the match. Marnus Labuschagne hit a massive six off Will Jacks, but Jacks soon dismissed captain Steve Smith, who scored 12 runs off 12 balls.

Usman Khawaja, playing his final international match, received a guard of honour from the England players. However, his innings was brief, as he was dismissed for six runs by Josh Tongue.

Australia faced another setback with a mix-up leading to Labuschagne's dismissal for 37 runs. The team found itself at 125/5.

Despite the quick loss of wickets, Cameron Green (22* off 27 balls) and Alex Carey (16* off 27 balls) guided Australia to chase down the 160-run target in 31.2 overs, ultimately winning the match by five wickets.

In the first innings, England opted to bat first, scoring 384 runs in 97.3 overs. Joe Root was the standout performer with 160 runs off 242 balls, marking his second century of the series.

Harry Brook contributed a solid 84 runs off 97 balls, while wicketkeeper Jamie Smith added 27 runs. For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland were among the wicket-takers.

Australia responded strongly, amassing 567 runs in 133.5 overs, taking a 183-run lead. Steve Smith led the charge with 138 runs, while Travis Head scored 163 runs.

In England's second innings, Jacob Bethell impressed with a remarkable 154 runs off 265 balls, becoming the ninth England player to score a century against Australia at the age of 22 or younger.

Ben Duckett and Harry Brook both contributed 42 runs each, helping England set a target of 160 runs after scoring 342 in their second innings.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc and Beau Webster were key wicket-takers. In the chase, Head, Weatherald, and Labuschagne ensured a successful finish, with Josh Tongue taking three wickets for England.

Brief Scores: England: 384 and 342 (Joe Root 160, Jacob Bethell 154; Michael Neser 4/60, Mitchell Starc 3/72) vs Australia: 567 and 161/5 (Travis Head 165, Steve Smith 138; Brydon Carse 3/108, Josh Tongue 3/42).