Australia staged a late surge to claim victory and clinch the Ashes series in a nail-biting fifth Test at the SCG, leaving England reeling from missed chances.
The Australian team weathered some wobbles along the way but ultimately knocked off a target of 160 on the final day to emerge victorious by five wickets. The victory marked Australia's fifth win of the series, securing a 4-1 lead for the home side.
England had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tour, including a special knock from Jacob Bethell that hinted at better things to come. However, the team ultimately struggled with consistency, particularly in the face of Australia's superior bowling attack.
The Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, consistently delivered quality performances, with Starc taking 31 wickets at an impressive strike-rate of 29.6 runs apiece across the series. This has set a new record for an Ashes series, demonstrating the Australian quick's dominance.
In contrast, England's batting line-up struggled to cope with the pressure, while their bowling was often plagued by 'cut for four' moments that highlighted their inability to pose a genuine threat to the opposing team's innings.
Alex Carey, Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman, was instrumental in the team's success, delivering several key blows and steering his side to victory. The 154 from Jacob Bethell earlier in the match was also a welcome boost for the English team, although ultimately proved insufficient to overcome their opponents' sheer depth of talent.
For England, the series has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, marked by crushing lows as well as moments of hope. Despite this, there can be few complaints from injured Ben Stokes, who watched his teammates fight hard but ultimately fall short.
The Australian team weathered some wobbles along the way but ultimately knocked off a target of 160 on the final day to emerge victorious by five wickets. The victory marked Australia's fifth win of the series, securing a 4-1 lead for the home side.
England had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tour, including a special knock from Jacob Bethell that hinted at better things to come. However, the team ultimately struggled with consistency, particularly in the face of Australia's superior bowling attack.
The Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, consistently delivered quality performances, with Starc taking 31 wickets at an impressive strike-rate of 29.6 runs apiece across the series. This has set a new record for an Ashes series, demonstrating the Australian quick's dominance.
In contrast, England's batting line-up struggled to cope with the pressure, while their bowling was often plagued by 'cut for four' moments that highlighted their inability to pose a genuine threat to the opposing team's innings.
Alex Carey, Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman, was instrumental in the team's success, delivering several key blows and steering his side to victory. The 154 from Jacob Bethell earlier in the match was also a welcome boost for the English team, although ultimately proved insufficient to overcome their opponents' sheer depth of talent.
For England, the series has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, marked by crushing lows as well as moments of hope. Despite this, there can be few complaints from injured Ben Stokes, who watched his teammates fight hard but ultimately fall short.