The Ashes: Australia Seal 4-1 Series with Nervy Five-Wicket Victory in Sydney

Chasing a modest 160, the hosts were made to sweat before Alex Carey (16)* and Cameron Green (22)* guided them home, avoiding what briefly threatened to become an embarrassing final-day collapse.

England added just 40 runs to their overnight total on the fifth morning, losing their final two wickets. Jacob Bethell, resuming on 142 after a superb maiden first-class century, advanced to 154 before edging a sharply rising Mitchell Starc delivery to the slips with the second new ball. Starc (3–72) then dismissed Josh Tongue (6) to finish the innings and end the series with a remarkable 31 wickets at 19.93.

England carried momentum into the chase and were rewarded early. Josh Tongue (3–42) once again led the attack, capping a strong finish to the series that yielded 18 wickets across the final three Tests, making his omission earlier in the tour increasingly glaring. Tongue removed Travis Head after Australia raced to a brisk start, before dismissing Jake Weatherald on the stroke of lunch, though England were left frustrated earlier when Weatherald survived on 16 following another controversial Snicko decision.

The reliability of the technology remained a talking point throughout the series, resurfacing again in Sydney after replays appeared to show a faint edge off Brydon Carse, only for the third umpire to rule not out. Similar doubts had dominated the third Test in Adelaide, where Snickometer decisions also came under heavy scrutiny.

England briefly sensed an upset when Will Jacks bowled Steve Smith (12) with a superb off-spinner after lunch. Chances followed Usman Khawaja, who edged past slip before being bowled for six in his final Test innings, while Marnus Labuschagne was dropped at gully on 20 by Bethell, his first error of the match. Labuschagne went on to score 37 before being run out following a mix-up with Carey.

At 121 for 5, Australia still required 39 runs, and nerves were evident, but Carey and Green steadied the chase to seal victory. Despite some hesitant running between the wickets, the pair ensured there was no late twist.

The result underlined Australia’s dominance across the series. Having secured the Ashes inside 11 days by winning the opening three Tests convincingly, the hosts shrugged off England’s brief revival in Melbourne to close the campaign emphatically.

Attention now turns to England’s future. While Ben Stokes is expected to remain captain, scrutiny over preparation, including just one warm-up game before the tour, is likely to intensify. Head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key may also come under review after a chastening series that exposed familiar flaws.

Australia, meanwhile, departed Sydney as deserved winners: the urn firmly retained, and the series emphatically settled.