Player of the Match
Player of the Match
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    11.4 full, nibbling, hit on the front pad - given! Crawley is going to review this, but it looked pretty adjacent. Pinned him in front of middle, and it's clipping the top of leg stump. Ahsan Raza's umpire's call is upheld and Crawley has to trudge off after another innings of unfulfilled promise! 51/2
    6.5 Starc strikes, Duckett finally kicks the bucket! Finds his length again and an indeterminate prod ends up in the flying Carey's mitts once more. It had been a wild and woolly start from Duckett, on a wild and woolly tour. Starc cuts through the fog to end his fun 35/1
    12.6 nicks him off! Angle change works immediately! 135kph, perfect length, pitching on middle, nipping and bouncing away, he tries to defend on the front foot on the rise from the crease and gets a thin edge near the shoulder of the bat and Carey pouches another 57/3
    160
    242
    398
    15
    0
    66.11
    97.1 brilliant caught and bowled! Root finally falls! Root was on the walk, Neser banged in back of a length, he tried to work off the hip but the bounce got big on him, it catches the leading edge and loops up legside, Neser darts across the pitch and takes a fantastic diving catch at full stretch 384/9
    47.4 sharply held at slip! No Ashes ton for Brook! Boland breaks the stand, and Australia have the early wicket they will have craved walking out there this morning. Brook has never knowingly not run towards the danger, here having a dabble at one rising in the channel outside off. Takes a thick edge, flying past Carey up to the stumps - but not the ever-alert Smith, who pulls off another fine grab above his left shoulder 226/4
    50.5 jaffa! Did Stokes get anything on it? Springing from a length as Stokes looked to defend around off stump... the ball fizzed through to Carey, and Smith wants another look on review. There's a small scratch on Snicko, one frame after the ball passed Stokes' bat! That is going to be enough to overturn Chris Gaffaney's on-field call. Brutal ball and Australia chip out another 229/5
    74.4 holes out to deep cover! What have you done Jamie Smith? Shoulder high short ball outside off, under 130kph, he backs away to slap it offside and miscues in the air to the only man infront of square at a deepish cover and Boland holds a simple catch 323/6
    91.6 edged and pouched by Green in the gully! Good length, angled into middle and off, it straightens and bounces a touch, Jacks plays across the line trying to work it square, gets a leading edge straight to Green in the gully and he takes the catch easily 375/7
    94.1 caught behind! Green turns around to check with the umpire but it's OK! Good length, lovely away shape, fourth stump, he's forced to defend, gets a thick edge and Carey takes the catch moving to his right 382/8
    not out
    1
    16
    16
    0
    0
    6.25
    97.3 bowled him! Superb from Neser. Good length, fourth stump, it nips in sharply off the seam through the gate and hits the top of leg 384/10
    Extras
    12 (b 1, lb 6, nb 3, w 2)
    TOTAL
    384 all out (97.3 Overs, RR: 3.93, 460 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Ben Duckett, 6.5 ov), 2-51 (Zak Crawley, 11.4 ov), 3-57 (Jacob Bethell, 12.6 ov), 4-226 (Harry Brook, 47.4 ov), 5-229 (Ben Stokes, 50.5 ov), 6-323 (Jamie Smith, 74.4 ov), 7-375 (Will Jacks, 91.6 ov), 8-382 (Brydon Carse, 94.1 ov), 9-384 (Joe Root, 97.1 ov), 10-384 (Josh Tongue, 97.3 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    MA Starc2329324.0401
    MG Neser18.326043.2400
    SM Boland2628523.2600
    C Green1808514.7211
    BJ Webster50200400
    TM Head40200500
    M Labuschagne301414.6611
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    163
    166
    324
    24
    1
    98.19
    67.1 over the wicket, fired in straight. Head sweeps and misses... given lbw! But he immediately reviews Ahsan Raza's decision. Was there some bat? No, says Snicko. Could it be sneaking down? No, says ball-tracking! Thumping leg, and Head goes. The 150-175 Achilles heel strikes again! 288/4
    12.2 full, straight, pinned him! Chris Gaffaney doesn't take too long with his decision but Weatherald asks for the review. Looks similar to a couple of his dismissals this series. Struck on the shin playing across the line. Could it be sneaking down leg...? No, it's clipping: umpire's call, and Weatherald is salmon. Stokes' golden arm to the rescue for England 57/1
    30.6 edged to gully! Stokes will love that. Labuschagne has thrown away a score. Full, not quite a half-volley, shaping wide of off, he drives but gets a thick edge that floats to gully and a simple catch is held by Bethell. Stokes looks at him but doesn't say a word 162/2
    54.4 nicked behind! A good length outswinger works! Amazing. Full, shaping away on a fourth stump line, Neser is camped back outside leg and is surprised, he pushes at it and gets a thin nick through to Smith 234/3
    128.5 A ripper from nowhere, and Smith nicks off! That's what Tongue can do, it's the sixth time he's bagged Smith in their contests, and it's a lovely delivery. Tight initial line, fuller length, angled into the stumps, demanding a defensive push, a hint of away movement finds the thin edge and Jamie Smith scoops up the low nick 544/8
    83.4 and traps him lbw! Khawaja misses a full toss! He reviews. Didn't consult Smith. Low full toss shaping into middle, no bat involved and it's smashing the bottom of middle! Terrible review 339/5
    88.1 glanced straight to leg slip! Carey falls for it again! Third time in the series! Half volley angled down leg, he plays an instinctive leg glance and flicks it straight to Bethell who is placed there! 366/6
    106.3 oh my word... Greeny, Greeny! Short ball, spooned up, straight to deep square leg! Green gives it away when set. He thumps his pad with his bat and trudges off. A wicket from nowhere, and boy did England need that 437/7
    not out
    71
    87
    123
    7
    0
    81.6
    5
    14
    20
    0
    0
    35.71
    132.6 another fine delivery! Tongue pings the top of leg stump with a nipbacker on a wonderful full length. Round the wicket, aiming into the pads, Starc pushed down the initial line but was unable to cover the movement as his leg bail went flying! Two wickets inside the opening hour 564/9
    133.5 edged to first slip! Brook's manoeuvring of the field pays dividends as Boland falls first ball! Pushed onto the back foot by Jacks' flight on a full length, a bit of grip off the surface and a fenced edge, high on the blade, straight into the stand-in skipper's hands 567/10
    Extras
    27 (b 4, lb 14, nb 5, w 4)
    TOTAL
    567 all out (133.5 Overs, RR: 4.23)
    Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Jake Weatherald, 12.2 ov), 2-162 (Marnus Labuschagne, 30.6 ov), 3-234 (Michael Neser, 54.4 ov), 4-288 (Travis Head, 67.1 ov), 5-339 (Usman Khawaja, 83.4 ov), 6-366 (Alex Carey, 88.1 ov), 7-437 (Cameron Green, 106.3 ov), 8-544 (Steven Smith, 128.5 ov), 9-564 (Mitchell Starc, 132.6 ov), 10-567 (Scott Boland, 133.5 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    BA Carse27213034.8110
    MJ Potts25114105.6420
    JC Tongue3009733.2300
    BA Stokes27.469523.4305
    WG Jacks8.503413.8400
    JG Bethell15.215213.3910
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    0.5 no stroke offered, nailed in front of off stump! Oh my, a crushing misjudgement from Crawley, but it was also a hooping inswinger! Perfect angle across the right-hander from over the wicket, tempting him to assume it was shaping to the slips, only to bend back in wickedly once his bat was already raised. it's pinging the top of off stump! Umpire's call means the verdict stands, but between the super inswinger at 140kph and Crawley's wrong option, that's bang to rights! 4/1
    42
    55
    96
    6
    0
    76.36
    19.1 bowled him! Duckett flings his head back in anguish! He'd done the hard work in the morning session, but Neser's tight angle from round the wicket finds him out once more. It was too tight for the cut, it kicked off the seam, back into his arc, and a thick under-edge cannoned into the stumps to end his underwhelming series, albeit with his highest score in ten attempts 85/2
    84.2 gottim, nicked behind! Starc does the business for Australia once again. Cramps him on the cut, zipping through to kiss the top edge and Carey does the rest. The crowd stands to applaud Bethell from the field, it's been a magnificent knock. But that's the wicket Australia needed 328/9
    31.6 trapped lbw! Boland finally gets through. Long chat between Root and Bethell. The youngster says you should review it because you are Joe Root. He does but he is worried. Ball tracking has it clipping the top of the leg bail! Good length, nipping in sharply it beat the inside edge and hit him flush on the knee roll. Chris Gaffaney thought it wasn't going over and ball tracking agreed. Root's series is done. He gets a warm ovation 117/3
    51.1 offbreak from over the wicket, decent turn from outside off, pinned on the back foot, Australia review! Looks a bit speculative, though so too was the shot... Brook was right back on his stumps, Webster's height might be a factor... but it's not! Skidding into leg stump, and Brook's five minutes of sketchiness has cost England again! 219/4
    51.3 Jacks holes out second ball! My God, what is wrong with this team! A massive wipe across the full length, picked up from outside off, Cam Green tumbles in the deep to cling on and suddenly England are back in freefall! An utterly crazy passage of play, conducted by a medium-pacer who has turned to his part-time offspin! 219/5
    64.1 A calamitous mix-up and Smith is run out! A short bouncer, doesn't get up, he pulls around the corner, Smith runs and Bethell is ball watching and hesitates before going back, Weatherald swoops to hit left at square leg, throws over the bails to Labuschagne and Smith is not in the frame. Easy run out. Crazy cricket. 264/6
    65.2 edged and taken at slip! Smith holds a beauty! Webster on fire! Shorter length, spinning and bouncing away, cut shot was on but Stokes' movement is so limited, he falls away as he cuts and gets a thick edge and Smith takes a sharp chance high to his left 267/7
    70.3 edged and taken by Smith! Good length, fourth stump, he has to play, prods forward, gets a thick edge and Smith takes a comfortable catch at slip 297/8
    not out
    18
    43
    80
    3
    0
    41.86
    88.2 Tongue chips to extra cover, that's it! Starc wraps things up with his 31st wicket of a magnificent series. He can go put his feet - surely Australia won't need No. 10 in this chase? 342/10
    Extras
    30 (b 9, lb 11, nb 2, w 3, pen 5)
    TOTAL
    342 all out (88.2 Overs, RR: 3.87)
    Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Zak Crawley, 0.5 ov), 2-85 (Ben Duckett, 19.1 ov), 3-117 (Joe Root, 31.6 ov), 4-219 (Harry Brook, 51.1 ov), 5-219 (Will Jacks, 51.3 ov), 6-264 (Jamie Smith, 64.1 ov), 7-267 (Ben Stokes, 65.2 ov), 8-297 (Brydon Carse, 70.3 ov), 9-328 (Jacob Bethell, 84.2 ov), 10-342 (Josh Tongue, 88.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    MA Starc18.227233.9200
    SM Boland2564621.8400
    MG Neser1605513.4301
    C Green604006.6600
    BJ Webster161643401
    TM Head402506.2510
    M Labuschagne30150520
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    10.3 wild swipe straight up and Carse takes the catch! Head had no interest in hanging around. He charged a short ball and tried to launch over midwicket, gets a top-edge that flies towards midwicket, Carse has to sit under it for an age and takes a good catch 62/1
    14.4 top edge taken by Potts running in from fine leg! Good short ball from Tongue does it. This rears from a length, Weatherald was pressing forward and got in a horror spot, he can't get his bat out of the way and it flies high towards fine leg and Potts runs in to take the catch diving forward 71/2
    23.1 terrible mix-up, and Labuschagne has run himself out! He's down on his haunches, having flung himself desperately back towards his ground. But he's a long way short, and has to go! What high-jinx is this?! Driven firmly to the left of mid-off and he calls for one straight away, but Carey was ball-watching and belatedly said no. Potts was the man to fire in the throw and Smith did the rest 121/5
    17.5 rips one through him, Smith's gone! Beautifully bowled by Jacks. Tossed up and Ragging, a classical offbreak that slides through the gap between Smith's bat and pad to hit middle and leg stumps! Smith looks back, completely befuddled at how the ball got through him. But there's no quibbling, and England have another 92/3
    22.1 Uzzie drags on, there'll be no fairytale finish! But he does get a moment to bask in the adulation of his home crowd as he walks from the field. He blows a kiss and then bows to place his forehead on the SCG turf. A fine career, and an immense character. Falls to Tongue again, who has three and continues to give Australians the hurry-up on the final day of the series 119/4
    not out
    16
    27
    40
    1
    0
    59.25
    not out
    22
    27
    34
    3
    0
    81.48
    Extras
    5 (b 3, lb 1, w 1)
    TOTAL
    161/5 (31.2 Overs, RR: 5.13)
    Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Travis Head, 10.3 ov), 2-71 (Jake Weatherald, 14.4 ov), 3-92 (Steven Smith, 17.5 ov), 4-119 (Usman Khawaja, 22.1 ov), 5-121 (Marnus Labuschagne, 23.1 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    BA Carse805106.3710
    JC Tongue1104233.8100
    JG Bethell301605.3300
    WG Jacks6.214216.6300
    JE Root3160200

Match Details

Toss

England , elected to bat first

Player Of The Match

Player Of The Series

Series result

Australia won the 5-match series 4-1

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30

Match days

4,5,6,7,8 January 2026 (5-day match)

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Points

Australia 12, England 0

Close of Play

  • Sun, 4 Jan - day 1 - England 1st innings 211/3 (JE Root 72*, HC Brook 78*, 45 ov)
  • Mon, 5 Jan - day 2 - Australia 1st innings 166/2 (TM Head 91*, MG Neser 1*, 34.1 ov)
  • Tue, 6 Jan - day 3 - Australia 1st innings 518/7 (SPD Smith 129*, BJ Webster 42*, 124 ov)
  • Wed, 7 Jan - day 4 - England 2nd innings 302/8 (JG Bethell 142*, MJ Potts 0*, 75 ov)
  • Thu, 8 Jan - day 5 - Australia 2nd innings 161/5 (31.2 ov) - end of match

Match Notes

Australia 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st62TM HeadJ Weatherald
2nd9J WeatheraldM Labuschagne
3rd21SPD SmithM Labuschagne
4th27UT KhawajaM Labuschagne
5th2AT CareyM Labuschagne
6th40AT CareyC Green