分类： sports

Australia has emphatically clinched the Ashes series with a 4-1 triumph following a decisive five-wicket victory in the fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground. The hosts successfully chased down a target of 160 runs on the final day’s afternoon session, cementing their fourth consecutive home Ashes domination and maintaining their hold on the urn since 2018.

England’s tour concluded as one of their most disappointing Ashes campaigns in recent history. Despite being positioned as competitive contenders, the visitors never recovered from their spectacular collapse in the opening Perth Test, which they lost within two days. Plagued by insufficient preparation, scrutiny over off-field conduct, deteriorating form, and critical player injuries, England surrendered the series during the initial three Tests.

Captain Ben Stokes, despite nursing a groin injury, led his team in Sydney’s final act and has expressed intentions to continue his leadership role. However, significant pressure now mounts on head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key, both having acknowledged tour deficiencies while stating their desire to remain in positions.

The match itself featured moments of brilliance amid England’s struggles. Jacob Bethell’s stunning 154-run debut century in the final Test provided a belated silver lining, while Joe Root finally secured a Test hundred in Australian conditions. Josh Tongue emerged with enhanced credentials from England’s bowling attack.

Australia’s victory proved particularly impressive given their own injury challenges. Captain Pat Cummins participated in only one Test due to back issues, while Josh Hazlewood missed entirely and Nathan Lyon had limited involvement. Mitchell Starc’s devastating 31-wicket performance, Travis Head’s series-defining promotion to opener, and Alex Carey’s wicketkeeping excellence propelled the hosts to victory despite what amounted to a second-choice bowling attack.

The tour was marred by controversies including Snicko technology disputes, dropped catches (England recorded 18 throughout the series), and distractions from intense Australian media scrutiny that documented players’ off-field activities from golf courses to aquariums.

With the T20 World Cup and Sri Lanka white-ball tour commencing in just two weeks, England’s leadership must demonstrate tangible improvements to retain their positions. Australia, while celebrating their comprehensive victory, now faces their own selection questions regarding opener, number three batsman, all-rounder, and frontline spinner positions as they prepare for the next Ashes contest in 2027.

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.

A valiant fourth-innings effort from England concluded at 342 all out on Thursday’s lunch session, establishing a 160-run target for Australia to claim victory in the final Ashes Test. The day’s play was headlined by Jacob Bethell’s magnificent 154, a career-defining maiden Test century that temporarily rekindled English hopes of squaring the series.

Resuming overnight at 302-8 with a lead of 119, England’s aspirations heavily relied on Bethell, who added 12 runs to his Wednesday total of 142. His resilient innings was eventually terminated by Mitchell Starc, with the young batsman edging a delivery to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Bethell’s performance is being widely hailed as a promising glimpse into the future of English cricket.

Matthew Potts contributed a vital 18 runs before Josh Tongue (6) fell to Starc, wrapping up the English innings. Starc finished with figures of 3-72, while Beau Webster claimed 3-64.

Australia, having already retained the Ashes with victories in the first three Tests at Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, now requires a manageable 160 runs to secure a series win. Their dominant first-innings total of 567, in response to England’s initial 384, positioned them favorably for this final chase. England’s recent two-day victory in Melbourne had offered a fleeting moment of optimism, which Australia now looks to extinguish.

Australian cricket legend Damien Martyn has achieved a remarkable medical milestone following his discharge from hospital after battling a severe meningitis infection that required an induced coma. The 54-year-old former Test batsman, who represented Australia in 67 matches, faced a critical health crisis last month that prompted emergency hospitalization and intensive medical intervention.

Martyn’s recovery progress received glowing endorsement from his former national teammates during Kayo Sports’ Ashes coverage. Wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist delivered the encouraging update, confirming Martyn’s release from medical care while acknowledging the ongoing nature of his recovery journey. “The wonderful news is that he has been released from hospital,” Gilchrist announced. “He’s still got a bit of a journey to go to be fully recovered, but it’s terrific and wonderful to know he’s back home.”

Fellow cricketing icon Mark Waugh characterized the positive development as “almost a miracle,” recalling the gravity of Martyn’s condition during his intensive care unit stay. Medical professionals attributed the successful intervention to the exemplary response from ambulance personnel who provided critical initial treatment. According to Gilchrist, medical staff emphasized that the prompt and precise actions of first responders effectively contained the infection during its crucial early stages.

The cricket community has rallied around Martyn throughout his health struggle, with colleagues and fans alike expressing relief at his progressive improvement. While the former middle-order batsman continues his rehabilitation process, the successful hospital discharge represents a significant victory in his medical journey that has inspired both the sporting world and healthcare professionals.

In a dramatic twist for the Premier League title race, Manchester City failed to capitalize on their opportunity to close the gap with league leaders Arsenal, settling for a 1-1 draw against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. The stalemate marks City’s third consecutive draw, raising questions about their consistency in the championship pursuit.

Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland etched his name in the record books by netting his 150th goal for the club from a penalty spot, achieving this milestone in just 173 appearances—28 games faster than any previous Premier League player. Despite Haaland’s historic achievement, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma delivered a superb equalizer in the 60th minute, curling a precise shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The result leaves Manchester City stranded at 43 points, five points behind Arsenal, who now have the chance to extend their lead to eight points with a victory against Liverpool on Thursday. In a parallel development, Aston Villa also remained at 43 points after being held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Elsewhere in the league, Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage in front of newly appointed manager Liam Rosenior, who watched from the stands. The Blues were reduced to ten men after Marc Cucurella received a straight red card for a professional foul on Harry Wilson. Raul Jimenez and Wilson scored for Fulham, with Liam Delap managing a consolation goal for Chelsea.

In other matches, Bournemouth secured a 3-2 victory over struggling Tottenham, with Antoine Semenyo scoring what is likely his final goal for the club before an anticipated transfer to Manchester City. Brentford dominated Sunderland 3-0 with Igor Thiago scoring twice, while Everton held bottom-placed Wolves to a 1-1 draw despite finishing with nine men.

Manchester United, under interim manager Darren Fletcher following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, faced Burnley in a late fixture. Meanwhile, Newcastle United fans paid emotional tribute to former manager Kevin Keegan after his family announced his cancer diagnosis, displaying supportive messages on the stadium screens at St James’ Park.