Australian Mens Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Ashes Series
The Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground tells the story of a dramatic finish to a one-sided series. Australia defeated England by five wickets after chasing a target of 160 on the final day.
The match was played from 3 to 8 January 2026 at the SCG. England won the toss and chose to bat first, but Australia eventually completed a 4-1 Ashes series victory. Travis Head was named Player of the Match after scoring 163 and 29, while Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Series.
In this article, we break down the complete scorecard, top batting performances, bowling figures, key moments, and the main reasons Australia finished the series strongly.
Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard
The fifth Test was a high-scoring match, especially during the first three innings.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Australia vs England, 5th Test |
| Series | The Ashes 2025-26 |
| Venue | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| Dates | 3-8 January 2026 |
| Toss | England won and batted first |
| England 1st innings | 384 all out |
| Australia 1st innings | 567 all out |
| England 2nd innings | 342 all out |
| Australia 2nd innings | 161/5 |
| Result | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Travis Head |
| Player of the Series | Mitchell Starc |
The final figures are confirmed by Cricket Australia, BBC Sport and other scorecard sources.
England 1st Innings: 384 All Out
England started the Test with a competitive total of 384 runs.
The biggest contribution came from Joe Root, who produced a superb 160 from 242 balls. His innings included 15 fours and helped England recover after losing early wickets. Harry Brook also played an important role with 84 from 97 balls.
England Top Batters
- Joe Root – 160 runs
- Harry Brook – 84 runs
- Ben Duckett – 27 runs
- Zak Crawley – 16 runs
- Jacob Bethell – 10 runs
Root’s 160 was particularly important because England were under pressure after losing wickets around him.
He batted for almost seven hours and reached his 41st Test century. The century also moved him level with Ricky Ponting on the all-time men’s Test century list at that stage.
Australia Bowling
Michael Neser was Australia’s leading bowler in the first innings with 4/60.
Scott Boland took 2/85, while Mitchell Starc also picked up two wickets.
Australia eventually dismissed England for 384 in 97.3 overs.
Australia 1st Innings: 567 All Out
Australia responded with an even stronger batting performance.
The hosts scored 567 all out in 133.5 overs, gaining a huge first-innings lead of 183 runs.
Travis Head Leads the Charge
Travis Head was the star of the innings.
He scored 163 runs from 166 balls, with 24 fours and one six. His strike rate was 98.19, showing how aggressively he attacked England’s bowlers.
Head’s century was his 12th in Test cricket and another major contribution against England.
Steve Smith’s Brilliant Century
Steve Smith also produced a memorable innings.
He scored 138 from 220 balls, hitting 16 fours and one six. His century was particularly significant in Ashes history.
Smith moved past Jack Hobbs to become the second-highest run scorer in Ashes history, behind only Sir Don Bradman. He also moved to second on the list of Ashes centuries with his 13th hundred against England.
Other Australian Contributions
Australia also received useful runs from several players:
- Beau Webster – 71*
- Marnus Labuschagne – 48
- Cameron Green – 37
- Michael Neser – 24
- Jake Weatherald – 21
- Usman Khawaja – 17
Beau Webster’s unbeaten 71 helped Australia push the total beyond 550.
England Bowling
Josh Tongue was England’s leading wicket-taker, finishing with 3/97.
Brydon Carse also took three wickets, although he conceded 130 runs.
Australia’s 567 gave them a very strong position and placed enormous pressure on England’s second innings.
England 2nd Innings: 342 All Out
England’s second innings produced one of the most memorable individual performances of the match.
Jacob Bethell scored 154 runs from 265 balls, producing his maiden Test century. His innings gave England hope after Australia had taken a significant first-innings lead.
Bethell showed patience and determination as England tried to make Australia bat again.
Harry Brook also scored 42 from 48 balls, while several England batters made smaller contributions.
England’s Fightback
The second innings was important because England needed to avoid an innings defeat and set Australia a meaningful target.
Bethell’s long stay at the crease helped England reach 342 all out in 88.2 overs.
However, Australia’s bowlers eventually finished the job.
Mitchell Starc took 3/72, while Beau Webster also claimed 3/64.
England’s total meant Australia needed 160 runs to win.
Australia 2nd Innings: 161/5
Australia’s final chase looked simple on paper but became more complicated than expected.
The hosts reached 161/5 in 31.2 overs and won by five wickets.
Top Scorers in the Chase
- Marnus Labuschagne – 37
- Jake Weatherald – 34
- Cameron Green – 22*
- Alex Carey – 16*
Australia lost five wickets during the chase, but Carey and Green remained unbeaten at the end.
Their partnership of 40 runs helped Australia cross the finishing line on a difficult fifth-day surface.
Josh Tongue was England’s best bowler during the chase. He took 3/42 in 11 overs.
Will Jacks took the other wicket, while Australia’s batters kept the required run rate under control.
Travis Head: Player of the Match
Travis Head was the obvious choice for Player of the Match.
His first-innings 163 was one of the biggest reasons Australia gained control of the Test. He then added 29 during the successful chase.
His total contribution was 192 runs, along with bowling figures of 0/20 and 0/25.
Head’s aggressive approach once again proved valuable against England.
His ability to change the momentum quickly made a major difference in a Test where Australia needed to build a large first-innings score.
Joe Root’s 160 for England
Joe Root was England’s standout batter.
His 160 from 242 balls was one of the finest individual innings of the match. He combined patience with controlled stroke play and gave England a strong foundation.
However, England could not turn Root’s performance into a winning total.
His innings showed the difference between individual brilliance and team performance. Root provided the runs, but Australia had greater depth across the match.
Jacob Bethell’s Maiden Test Century
Jacob Bethell’s 154 was another major highlight.
Coming after Australia’s huge first-innings total, his innings gave England a chance to fight back. He showed excellent concentration and spent long periods at the crease.
It was his maiden Test century and one of the most positive moments for England in the match.
Although England eventually lost, Bethell’s performance provided an encouraging sign for the future.
Bowling Performance: Australia vs England
Australia’s bowling attack played a major role throughout the Test.
Australia’s Best Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Best Figures in Match |
|---|---|
| Michael Neser | 4/60 |
| Mitchell Starc | 3/72 |
| Beau Webster | 3/64 |
| Scott Boland | 2/85 |
Neser was particularly effective in England’s first innings, while Starc and Webster made important contributions later.
Starc’s overall impact was even bigger across the Ashes. He was named Player of the Series, underlining his importance to Australia’s 4-1 victory.
Key Moments From the Match
Several moments shaped the result.
Root’s 160
Root’s century gave England a strong first-innings platform.
Head’s 163
Head changed the game with an aggressive century and helped Australia move well ahead of England.
Smith’s 138
Smith’s century added further pressure and gave Australia a first-innings lead of 183 runs.
Bethell’s 154
Bethell’s century prevented England from collapsing and gave them a chance to make Australia chase a competitive target.
Carey’s Winning Contribution
Alex Carey stayed unbeaten on 16 and Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 22 as Australia completed the chase.
Australia vs England Ashes 2025-26 Series Result
The Sydney Test completed a dominant Ashes campaign for Australia.
Australia won the five-Test series 4-1.
| Test | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Perth | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| 2nd Test | Brisbane | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| 3rd Test | Adelaide | Australia won by 82 runs |
| 4th Test | Melbourne | England won by 4 wickets |
| 5th Test | Sydney | Australia won by 5 wickets |
The series results are recorded by Cricket Australia and NDTV’s Ashes results page.
Australia therefore finished with four victories, while England managed one win in Melbourne.
Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Key Stats
The fifth Test produced several outstanding numbers.
- Australia scored 567 in the first innings.
- England scored 384 in their first innings.
- Australia gained a 183-run first-innings lead.
- England scored 342 in the second innings.
- Australia chased 160 and finished on 161/5.
- Travis Head scored 163.
- Steve Smith scored 138.
- Joe Root scored 160.
- Jacob Bethell scored 154.
- Australia won by five wickets.
- Travis Head was Player of the Match.
- Mitchell Starc was Player of the Series.
Conclusion
The Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the fifth Ashes Test shows why Australia finished the 2025-26 series as the stronger side.
England had some outstanding individual performances. Joe Root’s 160 and Jacob Bethell’s 154 were major highlights, while Harry Brook also contributed valuable runs.
Australia, however, had greater consistency across the match.
Travis Head’s 163 and Steve Smith’s 138 gave Australia a massive first-innings total. The bowlers then restricted England to 342 in the second innings before the hosts completed the 160-run chase.
The final result was Australia 161/5, England 342, with Australia winning by five wickets. More importantly, the victory completed a 4-1 Ashes series triumph.
For England, Bethell’s century offers a positive takeaway. For Australia, the match underlined the depth of their batting and bowling attack.
Overall, it was a fitting end to an Ashes series dominated by Australia.
FAQs
What was the result of the Australia vs England 5th Test?
Australia defeated England by five wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
What was Australia’s score in the fifth Ashes Test?
Australia scored 567 all out in the first innings and 161/5 in the second innings.
Who scored the most runs for Australia?
Travis Head was Australia’s leading scorer with 163 runs in the first innings.
Who scored 160 for England?
Joe Root scored 160 runs from 242 balls in England’s first innings.
Who was Player of the Match?
Travis Head was named Player of the Match after his important contributions with the bat.
Who won the Ashes 2025-26 series?
Australia won the Ashes 4-1, taking four of the five Tests.
