Australia has retained the Ashes urn after chasing down 160 on the final day of the fifth Test in Sydney to win by five wickets. The result seals a comprehensive 4-1 series victory for the hosts, leaving England to reflect on a heavy defeat that exposed their struggles Down Under.



The victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground came after Australia bowled England out for 342 in their second innings. Despite some nervous moments during the chase, with Australia losing five wickets for just 59 runs, Alex Carey and Cameron Green steadied the ship with a crucial 40-run partnership to guide the hosts home.



Khawaja’s Emotional Farewell Falls Short

In what was meant to be a fairy-tale ending to Usman Khawaja’s 88-Test career, the veteran opener managed just 6 runs before being bowled by Josh Tongue. Walking through a guard of honour from the England team, Khawaja received warm embraces from teammates but couldn’t deliver the storybook finish at his home ground.



The chase began smoothly with Australia reaching 62 without loss before chaos ensued. Travis Head, who finished the series with a remarkable 629 runs at 62.90, fell for 29 trying to accelerate the scoring. Jake Weatherald followed soon after, caught at fine leg for 34, leaving questions about his future in the Test side.



England’s Predictable Approach Under Fire

England captain Ben Stokes admitted his team had become “predictable” and played “too much 3/10 cricket” throughout the series. Despite showing moments of fight, including Jacob Bethell’s magnificent 154 in the second innings at Sydney, England couldn’t sustain the consistency needed to challenge Australia.



“We’ve not been able to deliver the quality of cricket that’s required to win Test matches, particularly out here in Australia,” Stokes said after the defeat.



The captain warned underperforming players about his “ruthless side” and promised honest conversations about the team’s direction.

Mitchell Starc emerged as Australia’s standout performer, claiming 31 wickets for the series – the most by an Australian since Mitchell Johnson’s legendary 37-wicket haul in the 2013-14 Ashes. His crucial breakthroughs, including removing Bethell for 154 in Sydney, repeatedly halted England’s momentum when they threatened to take control.



The ECB has already announced a “thorough review” of the campaign, with CEO Richard Gould stating they will “implement necessary changes” ahead of the 2027 Ashes in England. Head coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that “tweaks” to their methods are needed, as teams have found answers to England’s attacking style of play.



For Australia, questions remain about their batting order despite the series win. But with standout performances from Head, Carey, and Starc, they proved too experienced and disciplined for an England side that lost the Ashes inside just 11 days with defeats in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.