 Travis Head delivered a series that will be remembered for years as he played a key role in Australia retaining the Ashes Urn at home. From the very first test, the explosive batter looked unstoppable.Travis Head‘s demolition of England in the 2025-26 Ashes did more than secure a 4-1 series win for Australia, as it also shattered a significant Test record held by Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli.
Travis Head finished the five-match Test series as the highest run-scorer, piling up 629 runs at a massive average of 62.90 and scoring at a breathtaking strike rate of 87.36.
The left-handed batter stepped up and took the game away from England every time he took the field in the 2025-26 Ashes. The fifth and final test at Sydney summed up his impact perfectly. Batting with confidence and aggression, Travis Head completely dominated the English attack and smashed a brilliant 163 in the first innings of the New Year’s Test.
When Australia came out to chase 160 in the fourth innings, the star batter once again played his role, adding a crucial 29 and setting the tone for a comfortable five-wicket win over England at the SCG. With this win, Australia clinched the Ashes 4-1, and Travis Head was awarded the Player of the Match award for his match-winning century in the first innings at the SCG.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report: Steve Smith spoke longingly about a Sheffield Shield match in 2012, when he scored a century but also then took a 7-wicket haul against South Australia. And wondered what happened to those traditional SCG pitches that routinely begged the question of whether Australia would play two spinners here like in the old days.
Instead, all the talk about the surface in the lead-up to this Test has been the grass cover on top, even if the curator has insisted that the greenness on top is just the flavour he was looking for. There is rain forecast, as is the norm, for the first two days of the Test but weather is unlikely to play as much a role in how quickly this Test finishes as the pitch itself.
Toss: England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat with Matthew Potts in place of Gus Atkinson in the Playing XI. Australia skipper Steven Smith who also wanted to bat first made one change in the Playing XI bringing in Beau Webster for in for Jhye Richardson and Usman Khawaja playing his farewell Test of the career.
Day 1: Joe Root and Harry Brook steady England on curtailed opening day at SCG
From there, Root and Brook steadied the innings with a measured, largely untroubled stand. Australia’s seamers, while still finding occasional movement, struggled for sustained accuracy, allowing the Yorkshire pair to settle into a sensible rhythm. Root played late and with soft hands, while Brook mixed caution with the odd flourish, including a crisp extra-cover drive off Cameron Green.
Bad light brought an early Tea, but not before Root and Brook had firmly wrested control of the session with an unbroken 150-plus stand. On a surface offering little beyond occasional nibble, the pair batted through Australia’s seam-heavy plans with growing authority, taking England to 211 for 3.
Root was the picture of assurance, compact and decisive, as he raised his fifty with minimal fuss. Brook mixed elegance with aggression, bringing up his own half-century with a flashing drive and later launching Green for a towering pull. Australia tried rotating their quicks and even resorted to short-ball tactics, but beyond Starc’s sporadic menace, there was little sustained threat. Meanwhile, Brook’s progress, though productive, was not without adventure.
A top-edged pull dropped safely between three fielders, and there were a few ambitious slashes that beat both bat and keeper, yet such moments were absorbed within an otherwise commanding display. Root, by contrast, barely put a foot wrong, consistently picking gaps and ensuring the scoring rate never stalled.
As clouds gathered and the light deteriorated, the umpires brought out the light meter, drawing boos from the crowd before Tea was taken early with rain threatening. The third session was initially delayed by poor light before rain set in, and the wait continued. But there was no further play for the day, with conditions failing to improve and Stumps eventually called an hour early.
Joe Root and Harry Brook led England’s recovery on a rain-hit opening day of the final Ashes Test at the SCG. After England slipped to 57 for 3, the pair added an unbroken 154-run stand for the fourth wicket to take the visitors past 200. However, only 45 overs were possible on the day as bad light and rain forced an early close, with England finishing on 211 for 3.
Day 2: Travis Head leads Australia’s strong reply after Root ton takes England to 384
England resumed with Harry Brook and Root at 211 for 3 after only 45 overs were possible on Day 1. Scott Boland began with probing lines and picked up Brook in the third over of the day for 84. Mitchell Starc continued to have the better of Ben Stokes dismissing him for an 11-ball duck, the 14th dismissal of the English captain against the left-armer. An edge by Jamie Smith fell short off second slip as Australia were heaping the pressure on the visitors.
While Root moved into the nineties, Jamie began to accelerate through the gears beginning with a pull off Starc for a maximum. A couple of boundaries ensued in the subsequent overs as England moved past 250. After a couple of streaky shots falling short of the slip cauldron, Root brought up his second Test ton of the series to a standing ovation.
Jamie had a reprieve after drinks as Cameron Green overstepped after the batter hit one straight to the cover fielder, and he continued to slap deliveries to the fence with disdain while Root showcased his flicks through mid-wicket. Running out of ideas, Steve Smith turned to Labuschagne for a short-ball ploy which returned dividends immediately as Jamie made room but played his hop shot straight to Boland in the deep, breaking the 94-run stand on the stroke of Lunch.
After Lunch, Will Jacks began with a top-edge that flew for six while Root scored a boundary through gully to move into the 140s. Jacks hit a couple of quick boundaries before Root brought up his 150 – his 17th score of 150 or more.
After drinks, Michael Neser picked up Jacks while Brydon Carse nicked behind off Green to Alex Carey. Neser then took a stunner off his own bowling as Australia finally saw the back of Root before the Queenslander picked up his fourth of the innings, with the wicket of Josh Tongue two balls later. England lost their last four wickets for nine runs to fold for 384.
Travis Head and Jake Weatherald were quiet in the first few overs but broke the shackles when Matthew Potts conceded three boundaries in an over to Head.
Potts continued to be loose with the ball as Weatherald hit him for two successive boundaries in his second over. The two openers brought up the 50-run stand in the 10th over when the lights also came on as it got slightly dark. Tongue was impressive but would bowl one loosener in his over which would race away to the boundary.
After drinks Stokes picked up Weatherald with a full delivery angling onto leg-stump, which the batter fell over and was rapped on the pads. It was similar to the way he got out in Perth in the first Test. Head and Labuschagne then put on a near flawless partnership for the next 20 overs. They pounced on full deliveries with drives through the covers and even got hold of ramp shots above the slip cauldron to the fence.
Stokes had a few words to say to Labuschagne as well before the duo brought up the 100-run stand. The partnership was broken when Labuschagne tried to play an expansive drive through the offside which was nicked and pocketed by Jacob Bethell at gully. Head moved into the nineties while Neser who came out as nightwatchman, batted 15 deliveries before being hit on the forearm by Stokes before a slight drizzle led to Stumps on Day 2.
Joe Root scored his 41st Test ton but yet again, as in most of this Ashes, Australia ensured England didn’t get into a commanding position. Travis Head (91*) and Marnus Labuschagne (48) put on a hefty 105-run partnership for the second wicket as the hosts ended Day 2 adrift of England’s 384 by 218 runs, at 166 for 2. It was Root’s 24th century since 2021 and has now put him level on Test hundreds with Ricky Ponting on 41. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) are in front of him.
Day 3: Â Travis Head, Steven Smith tons put Australia firmly in command at SCG
On the pink day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, England burnt their second review early on as a caught-behind appeal of nightwatchman Michael Neser just showed bat hitting ground. Travis Head, who walked out on 91, flicked one to the fence to move to 96 before driving Josh Tongue through the covers to bring up his third 100 of the series and 12th in Tests overall.
Matthew Potts, who looked woefully out of rhythm on Day 2, was greeted with disdain as Travis Head smashed a hat-trick of boundaries in his first three balls of the day. The ploy to bowl short to Travis Head however, almost worked immediately but Will Jacks dropped a sitter at deep mid-wicket off Brydon Carse to add to the visitors’ woes.
Neser, who played and missed a lot throughout the first session, also unfurled some beautiful drives through the offside before England used up their final review with impact on hawk-eye against Neser just outside off. Neser finally fell to Carse by nicking behind to the ‘keeper, bringing an end to the nightwatchman’s resistance. Head continued to pile the misery on England with boundaries scored consistently, which included an authoritative pull off Potts.
Head crossed 150 with a hard flash over the slip cauldron as Smith slowly got into his innings. The right-hander got a reprieve when an outside-edge didn’t stick in Zak Crawley’s hands at gully.
Head fell to Jacob Bethell on 163 after being wrapped on the pads and took a review along with him, breaking the 54-run stand. Out walked Usman Khawaja in his final Test to take guard at the middle. Meanwhile, Smith got the better of Ben Stokes with three boundaries in no time to take the hosts past 300 as the runs continued to flow.
England took the second new ball immediately once it was due but Potts and Carse leaked boundaries as Smith moved to 50. Just when the two batters brought up the 50-run stand, Carse had Khawaja LBW. Â Alex Carey played a quick knock of 16 off 13 which consisted of three boundaries all through the extra-cover region before finding Bethell at leg-slip off Tongue.
With Potts continuing to serve up hit-me balls, Australia nudged closer to England’s 384 and were seven short when Tea was called. Despite Cameron Green hitting Stokes for a four in the first over after Tea, the final session was the Smith show. Â He had it all – some gymnastics, umpiring, picking out chocolate ice-creams in the crowd and of course, some scintillating stroke-making. A boundary through extra cover by the stalwart took Australia into the lead.
 Smith struck Bethell down the ground for a maximum while Green pulled Stokes for a 94-metre monster. Smith moved into the nineties with a four through backward-square leg. Against the run of play, however, Green mistimed a pull which went straight to the hands of Ben Duckett as Carse picked up his third.
Smith then scored his 37th Test ton with a three towards fine-leg, going past Rahul Dravid, and also scored his 13th Ashes ton with only Don Bradman ahead of him on 19. Beau Webster and Smith added 81 runs together for the eighth wicket with both remaining unbeaten on 129* and 42* respectively.
Centuries by Travis Head (163) and Steven Smith (129*) ensured Australia took control of the Sydney Test on the moving Day 3. The hosts scored 352 runs across the day, eventually taking the lead to 134 at the close of play. Australia were 518 for 7 at Stumps, leaving England with a mountain to climb to save the Test match.
Day 4: Australia edge Day 4 despite Jacob Bethell’s maiden Test ton for England
Australia resumed the day on 518 for 7 and began positively with Beau Webster bringing up his fifty while raising his partnership with Steve Smith to 100 shortly after. England’s concerns compounded when skipper Ben Stokes walked off the field while bowling the 127th over with what was later confirmed to be a right adductor strain.
Australia’s innings unravelled quickly once Josh Tongue had Steve Smith edging behind in the 129th over. Tongue returned to dismiss Mitchell Starc in the 133rd over before Will Jacks had Scott Boland out caught behind for a golden duck in the very next. Australia finished on 567 having added 49 runs to their overnight tally.
With a deficit of 183 runs, England’s second innings began with familiar frustration as Starc picked up a wicket in the very first over for the fourth time in the series – this time trapping Zak Crawley LBW after he offered no shot to a sharp in-decker.
But England mounted a counter-punch with left-handers Ben Duckett and Bethell stitching an attacking partnership of 81 runs for the second wicket. Duckett began by rifling a couple of boundaries off Starc in the third over while Bethell, who started watchfully, struck his first boundary off Michael Neser in the seventh over.
England’s scoring rate saw a significant rise post the drinks break with both batters growing in confidence. Nine fours were struck between overs 11 and 15 even as the pitch started showing signs of variable bounce, with Bethell even copping a glancing blow to his helmet attempting to fend away a sharp Cameron Green bouncer.
Duckett was dropped by Green off Neser at second slip in the 16th over and England reached Lunch on 80 for 1. Despite the reprieve, Duckett’s Ashes ended on a sombre note just after the break as he chopped on a delivery from Neser. Joe Root, who scored a century in the first innings, didn’t look nearly as comfortable or confident at the crease in the second.
His only boundary came in the form off a thick outside edge through the slip cordon and he was continually challenged by Boland’s inswingers. He survived a shout and review for caught-behind and copped a painful blow to the box before being trapped LBW in the 32nd over.
A review couldn’t come to his aid with the ball clipping the stumps on umpire’s call, ending his Ashes with a laboured 6 off 37 balls. Bethell, though, continued to look comfortable and confident at the other end. He was joined by Harry Brook, who matched both Bethell’s energy and scoring rate as England rallied forward once more.
The duo took England to Tea on 174 for 3 before levelling the scores shortly after the break. Bethell spent an extended period in the nineties before eventually bringing up his ton with a four off Webster in the 50th over.
The Brook-Bethell partnership ticked past 100 and just when it appeared like England were in control, they were dealt a double blow by Webster. Now bowling off-breaks, Webster first trapped Brook LBW on review before Jacks, who was promoted to No. 6, holed out to deep mid-wicket just two balls later.
Jamie Smith walked out with confidence and things looked upbeat for England once more during his 45-run stand with Bethell as Australia resorted to their part-timers in Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. However, England let slip the control they wrested once more with a mix-up leading to Smith’s run-out in the 65th over.
Stokes arrived next, looking stiff and only managing to walk a couple of singles. His stay at the crease remained brief as Steve Smith held on to a sharp catch at slip off Webster. From a position of relative prosperity at 219 for 3, England slipped to 267 for 7.
Brydon Carse chanced his arm and struck three boundaries during his 30-run stand with Bethell but he was out edging to slip off Boland in the 71st over. Even as England’s score crept past 300, the day ended in angst, symbolised by Boland beating Bethell’s outside edge twice in two balls before Stumps.
Jacob Bethell’s maiden Test and first-class ton wasn’t enough to consolidate England’s position as they accumulated a tender 119-run lead by Stumps on Day 4 at the SCG. After conceding a 183-run first innings lead, England’s second innings was marked by periods of hard-earned control followed by swift counter-productive implosions.
Day 5: Australia seal 4-1 Ashes win after nervy chase
Matthew Potts struck a boundary off the very first delivery of the day to set the tone for England who resumed on 302/8. The visitors made steady progress, with Jacob Bethell reaching 150 in the process. The first hour also saw a flurry of DRS reviews, two unsuccessful ones from Australia and a successful one from Bethell who had an LBW call overturned against Scott Boland.
Mitchell Starc would go on to claim both wickets to fall – first nicking off Bethell and then having Josh Tongue caught at mid-off – taking his series tally to an impressive 31. Set 160 to win, Travis Head got Australia off to another flying start while England burned a review in the very first over appealing for LBW. Â England were further aggrieved in the seventh over when third umpire Kumar Dharmasena deemed there was insufficient evidence to overturn a caught-behind appeal against Jake Weatherlald despite a slight murmur on Snicko.
Australia’s openers continued to score at a high tempo but England fought back with Tongue claiming the wickets of both openers before Lunch. Despite Australia requiring just 87 to win after the break, the conditions meant that England continued to create chances to keep themselves interested.
Will Jacks found sharp turn to bowl Steve Smith shortly after lunch, before Jacob Bethell put down a tough chance at gully off Marnus Labuschagne. Usman Khawaja’s final Test innings was brief, bowled after chopping on, and when Labuschagne was run out in the following over, England began to sense the possibility of an unlikely comeback.
Cameron Green was nearly run-out twice off the same delivery as the Australians continued to look unsettled at the crease, further fuelling England’s hopes. But with the runs required dwindling steadily, Australia’s win was sealed when Alex Carey stroked a drive for four in the 32nd over.
Australia claimed a 4-1 Ashes series win following their five-wicket win in the fifth Test at the SCG. Set 160 to win, a swift 62-run opening stand laid the foundation for Australia before a steady 40-run stand between Alex Carey and Cameron Green got them over the line despite a brief stutter on an up-and-down fifth day pitch.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Steven Smith the Ashes winning Australian skipper said:  It was nice to finish on a high note; we know the importance of every Test match with the World Test Championship. To get a result here and finish the series on a high was incredibly pleasing. It’s been a really good week, it was a great wicket they produced out here, had a bit of everything.
It was a good five days of cricket, hard fought and nice to get over the line in the end. Everyone stood up at different times. Alex, Travis and Starcy were obviously huge standouts but other guys stood up at different times throughout the series.
That’s what makes a good team. Trusting each other, guys standing up in different scenarios and situations. Everyone did their jobs, so we’re really proud of that. It’s obviously a big series. As an Australian or an English cricketer, it’s the pinnacle.
We’ve got an experienced side. We’ve played some really good cricket for the last four or five years, obviously making two World Test Championship finals. We’ve got some guys in there that still want to keep getting better and improving.
 It’s just a great side to be a part of. (On them being a dominant side in home conditions) I think anyone at home plays better in a way. We obviously know these conditions; we’ve grown up with them and we’re accustomed to them. We know how to play on these surfaces and we did it again this time around.
(On Usman Khawaja) He’s had a wonderful career. It’s been great to be alongside him for all of it. I played in his debut Test match 15 or 14 years ago. He has just grown as a human and as a player.
 It’s been great to play alongside him for a long time and he’s certainly going to be missed in that dressing room. Just want to say, thanks again to England, it’s been a great series, it’s been good fun and you guys are fierce competitors. Thanks for the memories and it’s been a great series.
Ben Stokes the losing England skipper said: (On his leg injury) It has been better, it has been worse, won’t know till I get home. It was a great game to be involved in. Test matches that go to the fifth day and have a bit of drama there at the end is always something great to be part of.
 I think we should have got a 100 more and we allowed Australia to probably get a 100 too many in their first innings with the bat. If you look at 200 runs on the fifth day there on that type of a wicket, we would have been in the box seat. Australia are an incredible team, they played some incredible cricket.
The individuals stood up with the bat and obviously some outstanding performances with the ball as well. You have to give them a lot of credit. But also, being truthful to ourselves knowing we’ve done a little bit of damage to ourselves.
 It’s a tough one to take. We know that we can play a lot better than that but we’ve got to give full credit to Steve, Pat and the Australian cricket team. They’ve just been incredible for five Test matches.
 (Lessons from this tour) The time for reflection properly is not right now. We have got a long time off before we play our next Test series, so we’ve got some good time to go away and reflect on everything that not only we’ve looked at from this series, but even series before.
Come June back in the UK when we have our first Test series after this one, hopefully we can put the wrongs right. (On Bethell’s superb knock) Incredible, for Beth to wait for his opportunity towards the back end of the series, he’s put in a lot of hard work and graft into his game if the opportunity did come.
 That knock we witnessed there was simply incredible. For a 22-year-old lad to come out in the fifth Test of a massive series in a huge game and do that against a quality bowling attack on a pretty difficult wicket was incredible to watch.  Josh Tongue just keeps going from strength-to-strength. Every time he gets given the responsibility, he keeps impressing. We’ve got some unbelievable talent to work with going forward.
 We are so lucky and thankful to have the Barmy Army. They are going to be as disappointed as us about the way this series has gone.
That should never take away the gratitude and the respect we have as an England cricket team towards the fans who turn up day in day out regardless of how things are going for us. It definitely means a lot, singing there till the end for us, it’s so lucky we get to represent this country but also, we get to represent the Barmy Army and the fans.
Travis Head Player of the Match for his 163 runs said: It’s special (first Test century at the SCG). There’s a couple of good names up there. I have always found it tough to bat here, so it was nice to be up the order, nice to face the hard new ball and nice to contribute again.
Every hundred you get is going to be well cherished, but I’ll probably hold the couple at the start of the series when everything was on the line and we had an opportunity to win the Ashes series, that was the pleasing part. Then, I guess from a personal perspective, it’s nice to finish a series well in the fifth Test with runs again and make sure we don’t take the foot off.
What an amazing week we’ve had. (On their plans for celebrations) Cummo (Cummins) should probably pull the weight a little bit to organise few things. Starcy’s probably ready to go after five Test matches on the bounce and Slug (Webster) will do his thing.
Mitchell Starc Player of the Series said: (On whether this is the best he has ever bowled in his career) Maybe. It feels like it’s going okay, the body is still holding together. It’s a great group to be a part of, it’s a lot of fun especially when you have Travis at the top there and in the change room.
It’s been a great group to be a part of and I’m just glad to be playing a role. (On playing all the five Tests) A little bit tired, Scotty and I are on the older side of things, but we still managed to get the job done.
 Between Scotty, Nes and I, we’ve certainly been told we’re not on the younger side of things, but to play the roles that we did, we were a bit tired and sore yesterday but I think the entire squad … we haven’t just used the 11 players, between the players and the staff, it’s been a long series, but it’s obviously very fruitful and enjoyable to be a part of.
 (On chipping in with handy runs during the series) I got a few out of the middle at the start of the series, certainly didn’t at the end. There’s no better incentive for a bowler than to not have to bowl again.
 So, it’s nice to put a few partnerships together. Batting with Scotty in Brisbane was a big one for us. To get to the night session and bowl with the newer pink ball under lights was a big one for us. It’s nice to chip in here and there, but always glad to see Heady and those guys do the scoring.
(Significance of the Pink Test) This week is more than just the cricket. It’s obviously the final Test in the series, but between England and other opposition that come here and play this Test, they get right behind it. It’s fantastic to see that, not only from the opposition teams, the cricket fraternity, the crowds have been awesome.
We saw day three was a huge day. That partnership with McGrath foundation and cricket, not only in this county but as a community, thank all the fans and the crowd for playing their part in that. It’s a big Test match. Earlier in the game, Root’s century stood out for England in the first innings but Head and Smith scored big centuries to help their side gain a substantial 183-run lead.
The 22-year-old Bethell showed what a talent he is with his calm and composed century in England’s second essay with the bat but he needed the others to do more. Once again in the series, the visitors failed to seize the key moments and paid the price for it.
Australia were the favourites coming into Day 5 of this Test. They stuttered a bit but have eventually got home quite comfortably. England could only add 40 to their overnight tally to set a target of 160 and that was always going to be a bit short.
Agreed that the surface crumbled and played up and down especially in the last two days, Australia had the batting resources to pull through. Head and Weatherald set a strong base with a 62-run opening stand. Both the openers fell in quick succession. Soon after that, the hosts lost three more quick wickets in a span of 32 deliveries.
 Labuschagne’s run-out due to a mix-up revealed nerves but post that, Carey and Green steadied things with a handy partnership to take their side home without any further hiccups. If England had managed to set a target around 200, it could have been a much closer finish.
This wasn’t a full-strength Australian side. No Hazlewood for the entire series, Cummins featured in just one match, Lyon hardly had a role in the first Test, was dropped for the day-night Test and then got injured in the third Test. There was a debutant at the top of the order as well. “It’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010,” were the words of former England bowler, Stuart Broad, before the start of this Ashes.
And, yet, they won the series comprehensively and have probably buried Bazball in the process. The Australians, throughout the series, found a way to win crunch moments. In Boland and Neser, the hosts had two accurate seamers to keep the pressure on.Carey scored valuable runs with the lower order under pressure and was flawless behind the stumps even while standing up for the pacers. Head’s promotion to the top of the order worked wonders as he finished the series with 629 runs.
England arrived with a lot of hopes. While they definitely fared better than the last three visiting England teams by winning a Test, they’ll go back disappointed. Their batting let them down big time. Duckett’s highest score this series was 42. While Crawley scored a couple of fifties, he fell under 10 in five innings.
Pope was dropped after the third Test. Root struck two centuries but England needed much more from their No. 4. Brook always flirted with danger and got plenty of starts, however, he couldn’t convert any of them into a big one and he’s yet to score an Ashes hundred. Jamie Smith’s shot selection will come under a lot of scrutiny.
Barring two slow fifties, Stokes barely had an effect with the bat. The fast bowlers toiled hard and never really gave up but losing three fast bowlers (Wood, Archer, Atkinson) during the series didn’t help their cause and the dropped catches enhanced their problems. There were two big positives though for them – Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell. The tall pacer, who missed the first two Tests, consistently troubled the Australian batters and was the pick of the England bowlers in the last two Tests.
Bethell, meanwhile, showcased his talent in the second innings of the MCG Test and then backed it up with a memorable hundred here at the SCG. Australia 4 – 1 England! Record attendance for all the Tests and despite the scoreline, it was an entertaining series.
Also Read:Â Ashes 2025: England Aim To Salvage Pride Against Ruthless Australia.