Australia wrapped up the Ashes 2025-26 on a winning note, clinching the fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground by five wickets to underline their dominance
at home, even if England briefly threatened to wrest momentum through sheer resilience. The result also ensured Australia closed the series with authority, brushing aside any lingering doubts raised by their Boxing Day defeat.
England began the Test on a solid footing, piling up 384 in their first innings after opting to bat. The talisman Joe Root led the effort by cruising through his first-ever red-ball hundred in Australia, scoring a masterful 160 off 242 balls, mixing patience with precision. Harry Brook’s fluent 84 provided momentum through the middle phase, while Jamie Smith chipped in with a valuable 46 lower down but ended up holing out to Boland.
Australia’s bowling, however, never fully lost control. Michael Neser was the pick among the bowlers, claiming four wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland struck at crucial moments to prevent England from breaking away completely.
Australia’s response was emphatic. Travis Head once again imposed himself on the Ashes narrative, smashing a commanding 163 that set the tone early. Steven Smith followed with a typically assured 138, and together they flattened England’s bowling plans through a long, draining innings.
Contributions from Beau Webster, Cameron Green, and Marnus Labuschangne helped Australia post a mammoth reply of 567 in their first innings, giving the hosts a lead that effectively dictated the match. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue was the best bowler for the visitors, picking three wickets, but support remained inconsistent.
The match moved quickly towards the fag end. The Englishmen, facing a mountain, showed admirable fight in the second innings.Jacob Bethellproduced a career-defining knock, compiling a marathon 154 across 265 balls, while Duckett and Brook added brisk cameos.
Yet, Starc and Webster struck early, the tactic of taking the advantage of a used up pitch by Webster bowling spin worked very nicely in favour of the hosts. Boland squeezed relentlessly, and England were bowled out for 342, leaving the Aussies a manageable chase.
The target was never truly in doubt. Despite the Ben Stokes-led side picking up five wickets to show some resistance in the target, the Aussies cruised to victory at 161-5, sealing the match and reaffirming their supremacy at home.
Speaking of the latest WTC standings, Australia remain at the top with only one loss in the 2025-27 cycle with 87.50 percentage points (PCT). England, though having played most matches, remain at no. 7 with only 31.67 PCT, only Bangladesh and the West Indies are beneath them. New Zealand and South Africa are poised at the second and third position, respectively.
Here's a look at the latest WTC 2025–27 standings
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | N/R | Points | Deductions | PCT |
| 1 | Australia | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 0 | 87.50 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 77.78 |
| 3 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 75.00 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 66.67 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 6 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 48.15 |
| 7 | England | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 31.67 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16.67 |
| 9 | West Indies | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4.17 |
Last updated on Thursday, January 8 after Australia's 4-1 series win over England at the SCG.
