Australia completed their emphatic Ashes series victory with a hard-fought five-wicket win over England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8, 2026, wrapping up a 4-1 series triumph that reasserted their dominance in cricket's oldest rivalry.

The fifth and final Test, played from January 4-8, saw England mount a spirited resistance in their second innings, with young star Jacob Bethell producing a magnificent 154 to set Australia a target of 160. However, the hosts proved too strong on home soil, chasing down the runs despite some anxious moments on the final day.

The victory was particularly poignant as it marked the farewell Test for Usman Khawaja, the 39-year-old opener whose 15-year international career yielded more than 6,000 Test runs. The cricketing world hoped for a fairy-tale ending for the veteran left-hander, but England's Josh Tongue had other ideas, dismissing Khawaja for just six when he chopped on to his stumps. Despite the early disappointment, the veteran admitted the entire Test match had been an emotional rollercoaster.

I was trying to act cool, but the whole Test match I found it really hard to control my emotions, Khawaja said after the match, reflecting on a memorable occasion that celebrated his outstanding contribution to Australian cricket.

With Khawaja's early departure threatening to derail the chase, it fell to the middle order to steady the ship. Jake Weatherald contributed 34 before falling to Tongue, while Travis Head added 29 to cap a sensational series with the bat. Ultimately, it was wicketkeeper Alex Carey and all-rounder Cameron Green who guided Australia home, finishing unbeaten on 16 and 22 respectively.

Head was named Player of the Match for his first-innings masterclass of 163, which laid the foundation for Australia's commanding position. The explosive batsman finished the series with 629 runs at an average of 62.90, the ninth-highest tally by an Australian in an Ashes series. However, the Player of the Series award went to pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, whose 31 wickets across the five Tests proved devastating for England's batting lineup.

The result capped a dominant Australian campaign that saw them secure the Ashes within just 11 days of cricket after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead following their 82-run victory in Adelaide. The hosts won comprehensively by eight wickets in both Perth and Brisbane before England salvaged some pride with a four-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over the Boxing Day Test.

Beyond the Ashes glory, the victory carried significant implications for the World Test Championship, earning Australia 12 crucial points. The triumph strengthened their position atop the 2025-27 WTC standings with 87.50 percent of possible points, placing them firmly on track for another appearance in the championship final.

For England, despite the series defeat, there were encouraging signs in the performances of young talents like Bethell, whose century in the final innings demonstrated the depth of promise in their batting ranks. The tourists will look to rebuild and learn from this experience as they prepare for a busy 2026 schedule that includes a T20 World Cup campaign and home series against New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.