Australian players pose for a selfie before the trophy ceremony at the end of the fifth Ashes cricket Test between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8, 2026. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP Australiawon the finalAshes Testagainst England by five wickets on Thursday to seal a dominant 4-1 victory after a gruelling series, sending the retiringUsman Khawajaout on a high. The nervy hosts saw wickets tumble as they chased their 160 target, which they reached after lunch on day five with Cameron Green not-out 22 and Alex Carey on 16 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
For England it was the final chapter in a miserable series. “That’s Ashes cricket. Everyone got tense,” said Carey, who hit the winning runs.
“Usman is going to be missed. A great career and a great way to finish.” Australia lost openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34), along with captain Steve Smith (12) and Khawaja, who made six in his final knock before retirement. “It means a lot.
[paywall]
So much has gone into it. The only thing I wanted was a win, as much as I wanted to hit the winning runs,” said Khawaja, who was almost in tears as he walked off to a standing ovation after being bowled by Josh Tongue. “The whole Test match I found it hard to control my emotions,” Khawaja added after his 88th and final appearance on the Test stage.
Marnus Labuschagne, dropped on 20, compiled 37 before needlessly running himself out to give Ben Stokes’s men a flicker of hope as they reduced Australia to 121-5. But victory was never seriously in doubt after England were dismissed for 342 on the back of Jacob Bethell’s stylish 154. “Australia are an incredible team,” said Stokes, whose side were outplayed over the course of the series.
[/paywall]
