The Ashes live cricket scores: Australia and England resume battle in fifth and final Test at the SCG
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.
Key events
06 Jan 2026 - 03:03 PM
STUMPS AUSTRALIA 7-518 Lead by 134
06 Jan 2026 - 02:00 PM
37th 100 for Steve Smith
06 Jan 2026 - 01:46 PM
WICKET Green ct Duckett b Carse 37
06 Jan 2026 - 12:45 PM
Smith puts Australia in the lead
06 Jan 2026 - 12:13 PM
TEA - Australia 6-377 Trail by 7
06 Jan 2026 - 11:58 AM
WICKET Carey ct Bethell b Tongue 16
06 Jan 2026 - 11:35 AM
WICKET Khawaja LBW Carse 17
06 Jan 2026 - 11:28 AM
50 for Steve Smith
06 Jan 2026 - 10:23 AM
WICKET Head LBW Bethell 163
06 Jan 2026 - 09:35 AM
LUNCH - AUSTRALIA 3-281 trail by 103
06 Jan 2026 - 09:17 AM
150 for Travis Head!
06 Jan 2026 - 08:45 AM
WICKET Neser ct Smith b Carse 24
06 Jan 2026 - 08:01 AM
JACKS PUTS DOWN A SITTER FROM HEAD!
06 Jan 2026 - 07:27 AM
Travis Head marches to his third 100
WICKET Carey ct Bethell b Tongue 16
For the third time this series Alex Carey has flicked one straight into the hands of leg slip.
Soft dismissal given he was seeing them so well as Tongue came over the wicket and Craey just hit it straight to Bethell.
Another opening for England just before tea with the under pressure Cam Green to the crease.
87th Over - AUS 5-366
Potts swings around to replace Carse.
Jamie Smith takes a note from Alex Carey and comes up to the stumps.
FOUR! On a length outside off and Smith climbs into a drive.
FOUR MORE! Short wide and Smith slaps it away with disdain forward of point.
86th Over- AUS 5-358
Tongue replaces Potts.
Smith calls through Carey for a quick single into the legside.
He then punches a single to Stokes at a deepish mid-off.
Oof! Carey cut in half as it jags back over the middle stump as there’s half an appeal for caught behind.
85th Over - AUS 5-356
On a length, and Smith whips one to midwicket.
FOUR! Half volley outside off and Carey punches four through cover.
FOUR MORE! Slightly shorter but same result as Carey cracks another boundary into the off-side to bring up 350 for Australia.
Crunch! Full on middle and Carey’s driving straight down the ground where Stokes puts in a long chase to keep it to three.
84th Over - AUS 5-344
Jaffa. Angles in and seams away to beat Smith’s defence.
There’s a delay as Smith asks Carse at mid-off to flick his glasses to the back of his head due to glare.
A touch full outside off and Smith pushes one into the covers.
83rd Over - AUS 5-343
Big appeal first ball to Carey as Carse tries to repeat the ball but this one pitches outside leg.
FOUR! Short wide and Carey gets off the mark with a boundary.
WICKET Khawaja LBW Carse 17
Khawaja tries to pull but cops one straight on the body.
Overpitched and he pushes two through the covers to bring up Australia’s fifth straight 50 partnership of the innings.
GONE! Full inswinging low full toss smashes into the base of Khawaja’s pad. He reviews but not sure why, as it’s smashing into the base of the leg stump.
Vital breakthrough with Australia till behind by 45.
82nd Over - AUS 4-337
Khawaja glances a single to fine leg. The defecit now under 50.
Smith defends the rest.
50 for Steve Smith
Carse to Smith, who misses out on a full toss that surprises him.
FOUR! Full and wide, and Smith pings it through point.
FOUR! Overpitched and pinged straight down the ground to bring up another Test match 50!
Been in great touch after a scratchy start.
Michael Vaughan not happy with the new ball bowling.
“England have gone with a tactic of using their worst two bowlers in this innings with a brand new ball. Twice,” he says on Fox.
81st Over - AUS 4-328
Matthew Potts takes the new ball as Khawaja defendsoutside off.
Good ball. Khawaja squared up trying to defend and is hit on the thigh.
Caught in two minds, and a bottom edge comes off the glove to Smith.
Half and LB shout as the inswing beats Khawaja’s defence.
FOUR! Overpitched, and Khawaja leans on a drive straight down the ground.
