The Ashes live cricket scores: Australia and England resume battle in fifth and final Test at the SCG

Josh Kempton
The Nightly
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia and Ben Stokes of England exchange words.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia and Ben Stokes of England exchange words. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Cricket: The series may be decided, but plenty of pride will be on the line in the fifth and final Test of The Ashes between Australia and England at the SCG.

The tourists were able to put what had been a torrid tour where they surrendered the urn inside 11 match days behind them by claiming their first victory on Australian shores in 15 years in a fast-forward Boxing Day Test.

Australia’s hopes of a 5-0 whitewash were swept away with the loss, but Steve Smith’s side will be looking to ensure England are sent home with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Stay across the latest Ashes action as Australia and England resume their battle in Sydney.

28th Over - AUS 1-145

Tongue goes short, and Head is caught in two minds whether to play or duck and is struck on the body.

Rides the bounce to bunt a single into the offside.

Short and Labuschagne pulls forward of square to pick up two to move to 47.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia bats during day two of the Fifth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 05, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia bats during day two of the Fifth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 05, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

27th Over - AUS 1-142

Potts to Head.

FOUR! Outside off and flayed hard to beat the man running around from point.

Shot! Driven on the up off the back foot between the two men at cover for three.

FOUR! Half-volley outside off and Labuschagne square drives past point.

26th Over - AUS 1-131

Tongue returns as the umpires are checking the light meter between every over at this point.

On the pads, and Labuschagne works a single square.

Head works a single off his toes.

25th Over - AUS 1-129

Potts continues as Head square drives a single to point.

FOUR! Half-volley and Labuschagne carves a boundary through cover-point.

He keeps strike with a drop and run single.

England say Root is unlikely to return today after experiencing discomfot with his bat.

24th Over - AUS 1-124

The dreaded light metre is out, but we’re ok to continue for now.

Head cuts a single out to point.

Close! Labuschagne plays a lazy cut and is lucky not to edge.

Overpitched and pushed through the covers for two.

Jaffa! On a good length and nibbles away to beat Marnus’ defence.

FOUR! Carse goes searching again but it’s too full and Labuschagne gets another boundary through cover.

23rd Over - AUS 1-116

Ouch! Potts gets one to rear off a length and smacks Labuschagen on the thumb, who rips off his glove but it ok to continue.

FOUR! Short and he rolls over it to sqaure leg.

22nd Over - AUS 1-112

Carse sticks a slower ball into the pitch but Labuschagne waits on it to pull two forward of square and bring up the 50 partnership.

Marnus survives a review! He misses the flick off the pads and Ben Stokes is confident by Carse less so.

It’s hit him on middle but the angle was always working against the bowler as replays show it would have missed leg stump.

FOUR! Short and Head uppercuts over the slips.

21st Over - AUS 1-105

Matthew Potts replaces Stokes.

FOUR! Goes full and Head pings the half-volley down the ground for another boundary.

Full again but wider this time as Head drives two through extra cover.

Cut off the backfoot to point to bring up Australia’s 100.

FOUR! Half volley and Marnus laces the drive past the cover fielders to the rope.

Marnus drives a single to finish with Potts going at more than nine runs an over.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia bats during day two of the Fifth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 05, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia bats during day two of the Fifth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 05, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

20th Over - AUS 1-93

Carse bowls a far better over to Laubschagne with three men in place for the drive.

A maiden.

19th Over - AUS 1-93

Stokes continues as Labuschagne leaves and defends.

Labuschagne works the short ball fine off the last for one.

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