Australia Seal Dominant 4-1 Ashes/sbkinews.in
Australia scripted a thrilling finale to their masterful 2025-26 Ashes campaign, edging a nervy five-wicket victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8 to seal the urn 4-1, with Alex Carey (16* off 25) and Cameron Green (22* off 28) masterminding a stuttering chase of 161 amid heart-stopping drama on the wire. Mitchell Starc’s herculean 31-wicket series haul at 19.93—the most by an Aussie paceman since Mitchell Johnson’s 37 in 2013-14—crowned him Player of the Series, a fitting tribute to his Perth ‘unique century’, Gabba demolition, and SCG tail-end strikes that set up the tense pursuit.
Usman Khawaja’s tearful farewell in his 88th and final Test turned bittersweet with a chop-on duck, as Australia lurched to 121/5 needing 40 more after a top-order implosion triggered by England’s fiery Josh Tongue (3/42). Jacob Bethell’s marathon 154 had swelled England’s second-innings lead to 160 from an overnight 302/8, forcing a Day 5 showdown where Starc’s 3/72 (including Bethell edged to mid-off and Tongue cleaned up) proved decisive. Yet it was Carey’s dodgy calling—nearly running out Labuschagne—and Green’s ice-cool nudges that ticked off the winning runs, avoiding a humiliating 3-2 loss in the dead rubber.
SCG Day 5 Nerve-Fest: Ball-By-Ball Breakdown
England 2nd Innings (342 ao, from 302/8 overnight): Bethell (154 off 265, maiden FC ton) survived umpire’s call DRS LBW, adding 12 before Starc’s rising delivery nicked to Tongue at mid-off. Potts boundary first ball; Starc yorked Tongue (6)—innings closed, lead 160.
Australia 2nd Innings Chase (161/5, 46.2 overs):
Overs 1-11 (62/0): Head (29 off 40) and Weatherald (34 off 38) cruised; faint Snicko umpire’s call LBW Weatherald.
Collapse Overs 12-30 (59 runs, 5 wkts to 121/5): Tongue express chops Khawaja (duck, farewell); Labuschagne run-out 37 (Carey hesitation); Jacks low-bowls Smith. Needing 40, tension peaks.
*Final 16.2 Overs (40 unbroken)**: Carey nurdles singles, ramps boundaries; Green lofts Hazlewood for winning four. Roar seals.
Head 1st inns POTM (163); Starc series POTM.
Australia Seal Dominant 4-1 Ashes/sbkinews.in
Full Series Symphony: Australia’s Ruthless 4-1 Domination
| Test | Venue/Date | ENG 1st | AUS 1st | ENG 2nd | AUS 2nd | Result/Margin | Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Perth Nov 21-22 | 172 (Starc 7/58) | – | – | – | AUS 8 wkts | Starc 10 match wkts |
| 2nd | Gabba | 334 (Root 138*) | 511 (Starc 77) | – | – | AUS Inn & 50? | Head 163 |
| 3rd | Adelaide Dec 17-21 | – | 371 (Carey 106) | 286 (Stokes 83) | – | AUS 200+ runs | Cummins 5-fer |
| 4th | MCG Dec 26-27 | 152 | 110 | – | – | ENG 4 wkts | Lottery chaos |
| 5th | SCG Jan 4-8 | 384 (Root 160) | 567 (Head 163) | 342 (Bethell 154) | 161/5 | AUS 5 wkts | Starc 3/72 |
11-day Ashes retention (fastest since 2002-03). WTC points: AUS 60, ENG 0.
Australia Seal Dominant 4-1 Ashes/sbkinews.in
Starc’s Pantheon Entry: 31 Wickets, Unforgettable
Detailed Haul: 31 wkts @19.93 Econ 3.2 (153.1 overs); 2×5-fer (Perth 7/58, Gabba). Bat 156 @26 (Perth/Gabba rescue).
Perth: ‘Unique century’ first 3 wkts.
Gabba: Series-turner.
SCG: Tail demolition.
Lillee (29, 1974-75), McGrath (32, 2001). Age 35: WC2027/Ashes double?
Khawaja’s Poignant Swan Song
88 Tests, 6,206 @43 (16×100): SCG chop-on duck. Lap honour: Family tears, Baggy Green. “Retiring content.”
Bethell’s Breakthrough: England’s Lone Spark
Maiden 154 (DRS survival): 300-run stand. Stokes: “Star born.”
Carey-Green Masterclass: Clutch Under Chaos
Partnership Anatomy: 39* off 8.2 (Carey singles, Green ramps). Labuschagne run-out scare: Carey calls critiqued. Green: “Calm heads.”
Australia Seal Dominant 4-1 Ashes/sbkinews.in
Series Stats Extravaganza
Top Batsmen:
| Rank | Batter | Runs | Avg | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | 400 | 44.44 | 2 |
| 2 | Harry Brook | 358 | 39.77 | 0 |
| 3 | Alex Carey | 323 | 46.14 | 1 |
Bowlers:
| Rank | Bowler | Wkts | Avg | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starc | 31 | 19.93 | 3.2 |
| 2 | Carse | 22 | 30.31 | 4.81 |
| 3 | Boland | 20 | 24.95 | 3.12 |
Tongue 18 wkts final 3 Tests.
Australia Seal Dominant 4-1 Ashes/sbkinews.in
Tactical Masterstrokes: Cummins’ Captaincy
Perth swing trap; Gabba seam; Adelaide battery. SCG composure. Series IQ supreme.
England Autopsy: Bazball’s Breaking Point
0-3 start; MCG fluke; SCG fightback too late. Stokes reflection: “Lessons learned.”
Detailed Innings Recaps: Series Saga
Perth: ENG 172 (Starc 7/58); AUS chase easy.
Gabba: ENG 334 (Root 138*); AUS 511 (Starc 77 bat).
Adelaide: AUS 371 (Carey 106); ENG 286.
MCG: 2-day farce; ENG 4 wkts.
SCG: Head 163, Bethell 154; Carey-Green heroes.
Starc Deep Dive: Pace Perfection
Swing yorkers, bounce—ENG batsmen nightmares. 237.75 fantasy pts tournament-high.
Legacy Layers: Australia’s Golden Chapter
4-1 quickest retention post-2002. Starc Lillee-tier; Head next gen.
WTC Final locked.
Horizons: WC2027, Retirements
Starc dual WC-Ashes? Khawaja void filled?
England rebuild: Bethell beacon.
AUS 4-1: Dominant dynasty affirmed.
