Image: Captain Steve Smith clicks a picture with fans post victory / © X (Twitter)
The series contested from 21 November 2025 to 8 January 2026 was part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 and saw Australia retain the Ashes urn with authority.
Australia set the tone from the very first Test in Perth, winning by eight wickets, and backed it up with another eight-wicket triumph in Brisbane. The momentum continued in Adelaide with a solid 82-run victory, leaving England reeling. Although England responded with a spirited four-wicket win in the fourth Test at the MCG — their first victory in 18 Tests in Australia — it proved a solitary bright spot in an otherwise one-sided series.
The final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground saw Australia secure a tense five-wicket win on the fifth day to seal the series 4-1. Chasing a relatively modest 160, the hosts were reduced to 121–5 before Cameron Green (22)* and Alex Carey (16)* steered the chase home. The match also provided an emotional send-off for Usman Khawaja, who retired from international cricket after a distinguished career, walking off to a standing ovation.
Individual brilliance and consistent contributions underpinned Australia’s success. Travis Head finished as the series’ leading run-scorer with 629 runs at 62.90, including three centuries, while Mitchell Starc, named Player of the Series, took 31 wickets at 19.93, the most by an Australian in an Ashes campaign since Mitchell Johnson in 2013–14.
England had moments of resistance, most notably Jacob Bethell’s maiden Test century (154) in Sydney and Joe Root’s 41st Test hundred, equalling Ricky Ponting’s tally of centuries in the format.
Off the field, the defeat has prompted introspection within the England and Wales Cricket Board, which has launched a thorough review of preparations, strategy and performance, with an eye toward redemption in the 2027 Ashes.
Australia’s comprehensive 4–1 triumph reaffirmed their home dominance, blending strong individual performances and collective depth to wrest control from England throughout the series.
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