Australia cruised to a five-wicket win over England in the fifth Ashes Test after a tense final day in Sydney, and the hosts’ dominance of the series was reflected in them securing a 4-1 score.
Set at 160 on the final day at the SCG after England lost their last two wickets to add 40 to their overnight score, Australia lurched to 121-5 before Alex Carey (16no) and Cameron Green (22no) scored the remaining 39 runs to avoid an embarrassing final defeat.
Josh Tongue (3-42) was once again incisive with the ball for England, taking his wicket tally to 18 in the last three Tests, making his omission in the first two Tests more noticeable.
He should have added Marnus Labuschagne to his haul, as Jacob Bethell eventually made 37 and Labuschagne made his first error in a Test when he hit a sharp chance down the gully when he was on 20.
The UK will also wonder what it would have been like if Jake Weatherald had been sacked for 16 days instead of 34, as the series was plagued by more Snicko controversy.
Doubts about the reliability of the Snickometer technology used to detect the edge of the bat dominated the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, and the issue reared its head again when replays showed Weatherald appearing to have a faint scratch against Brydon Carse. However, the third referee was unable to make a decision.
Usman Khawaja, who retired after the Test, was dismissed for six in the final innings as part of a shake-up in Australia’s middle order before Carey and Green saw the hosts over the line. Bowled on the inside edge by Tongue.
The result rubber-stamped a convincing series win for Australia, who had already retained the Ashes within 11 days, having won the first three Tests in convincing fashion before England claimed a consolation win after two days on a poor pitch in Melbourne.
It remains to be seen whether there will be any changes in the England management team after such a convincing series loss. The team’s preparation, or lack thereof, and having only played one warm-up game within the squad, will come under special scrutiny.
Captain Ben Stokes is likely to retain his role, with coach Brendon McCullum aided by the fact that he is set to lead England’s white-ball team in the T20 World Cup starting in February. Managing director Rob Key may also retain his job as he has two commitments when he takes up the role in 2022.
England went into the fifth and final morning of the series in Sydney with a 119-run lead and Bethell was bowled out for 142 not out following his stunning maiden first-class hundred on the fourth day.
He took his score above 150 but could only add 12 runs to his overnight total and was 154 off the second new ball, nicked by a surging Mitchell Starc delivery that was too close to cut.
Starc (3-72) cleaned up Tongue (6) to end the innings and take the series-leading wicket-taking tally with a stunning 31 at 19.93 per pop.
Travis Head and Weatherald helped Australia get off to a strong start in pursuit of England’s seemingly modest target, sharing a 62-run opening partnership in the opening 10 overs before Head became Tongue’s first victim of the innings.
Tongue added Weatherald on the lunch break, leaving no doubt about his top edge down the neck of deep fine leg after an earlier Snicko reprieve.
Will Jacks bowled a bewildered Steve Smith (12) with a dream delivery from the off-spinner. Bowled through the gate on a rough outside just after England were beginning to believe they could cause an upset.
England were quick to dismiss several chances that would have helped build confidence. Khawaja was one step ahead of Stokes at Jacks and Labuschagne was brought down by Bethell at Tongue.
Both soon got off to a quick start in quick succession, but their demise came after Labuschagne hit a valuable 16 runs in the Jacks’ next over to put them out of the attack.
There will be no fairytale ending for Khawaja. Although the 39-year-old received a warm welcome from the SCG crowd following his dismissal, Labuschagne looked completely downcast when Carey was left out following one of the numerous upsets he had with his partner late in Australia’s chase.
Australia still needed 39 runs more to win at that stage, but despite some questionable calls from Carey between the wickets, he and Green ultimately saw the home side win and secure a 4–1 series win.
‘Snicko nonsense shows inequality in the system’
Former England spinner Graeme Swann has commented on Jake Weatherald’s 16-day dismissal for TNT Sports.
“There were definitely mutterings, which is exactly how Stokes was out in the first inning. Here’s Snico’s nonsense. It shows the inequality in the system.
“The third official needs to be held accountable. I think that was one of the most ridiculous decisions I have seen in a long time.”
“You can’t have a system that everyone knows is a joke. How they continued to use it is beyond me.
“It turned out to be a farce in Adelaide and the situation got worse and worse. Players lost faith and used the system instead of cricket.
“When you have to be strategic about using strange technology, the world has gone crazy. Britain has every right to be angry and embarrassed.”
Ashes series 2025-26 in Australia
Australia wins 5 games in a row 4-1
