Australia has emphatically concluded the Ashes series with a commanding 4-1 victory, cementing its status as cricket’s preeminent force. The final chapter unfolded at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where the hosts secured a five-wicket triumph, delivering a perfect farewell for retiring batsman Usman Khawaja in his 88th and final Test appearance.
The Sydney match unfolded as a classic Test contest, contrasting with the disappointingly rapid pace of earlier matches. England’s much-touted ‘Bazball’ approach ultimately yielded limited success against Australia’s strategic superiority, with Travis Head’s aggressive batting repeatedly dismantling English morale throughout the series.
Khawaja’s emotional departure featured a standing ovation from SCG spectators and a respectful guard of honor from English opponents, though the winning moment belonged to Alex Carey after Khawaja was dismissed for six runs. The retiring star celebrated with teammates and performed sajdah on the pitch beside a ‘thanks Uzzy’ tribute.
The victory chase of 160 runs encountered brief turbulence when Marnus Labuschagne suffered a shocking run-out at 37, but Cameron Green and Carey steadied the innings to secure victory midway through the second session. The match attracted a record-breaking crowd of 211,032 spectators throughout the New Year’s Test.
Controversy emerged through Decision Review System (DRS) drama when England disputed a not-out ruling regarding Jake Weatherald, provoking heated on-field reactions and critical commentary from former captain Michael Vaughan. Weatherald’s eventual dismissal for 34 before lunch continued his challenging debut series.
Despite England’s overall disappointing performance, emerging talent Jacob Bethell provided a bright spot with a spectacular 154-run innings against Australia’s quality attack. The 22-year-old’s century demonstrated significant promise for England’s future batting lineup, though his efforts were undermined by senior teammates’ inconsistent performances.
Australia now faces selection questions ahead of their August Test against Bangladesh, with Beau Webster’s strong showing and ongoing concerns about key bowlers’ fitness shaping future lineup decisions.