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
53rd Over - AUS 2-233
Head backs away and carves one to point.
Ouch! Neser is hit on his sore arm again as they pinch a leg-bye as the physio comes out to check. He’s in some pain but looks ok.
Head leans back at ramps Potts over the keeper, but fine leg sweeps around to save two.
He gets a single off the last to fine leg
52nd Over - AUS 2-227
ENGLAND BURN THEIR LAST REVIEW!
Carse appeals for LBW after spearing in a great yorker, convinced it flicked the toe.
Third umpire agrees, but ball tracking shows the impact was outside the line, and England can’t believe it.
England lose their last review with Australia two down.
51st Over - AUS 2-226
Potts to Neser with men set for the short ball plan.
He pops one up on the offside but there are no men in close as they run a single.
Head goes for a wild hack across the line and misses everything.
50th Over - AUS 2-225
Head is flicking Carse fine for one.
Neser is pulling but can’t beat midwicket.
FOUR! Full wide and Neser is down on one knee, crunching it through point.
On the pads and there’s an easy single to deep midwicket, and that’s drinks after another chastening hour for Egnland.
49th Over - AUS 2-219
Head takes on the field again as his uppercut goes to Brydon Carse who dives and sticks the hand out but doesn’t stick. Super tough chance.
FOUR! Neser finally connects a cover drive as it races to the boundary.
48th Over - AUS 2-214
Head is walking singles now with men out everywhere.
FOUR! Neser leans back and cuts through backward point to bring up the 50 partnership.
47th Over - AUS 2-209
Head steers one around the corner.
FOUR! Short and Neser pulls powefully forward of square.
Flashes and misses outside off.
JACKS PUTS DOWN A SITTER FROM HEAD!
Stokes’ marathon morning spell ends as Brydon Carse returns.
Neser is clipping neatly for fine leg for one.
Head on strikes men out in the deep everywhere.
DROPPED! Head takes on the short ball and hits it straight to Will Jacks at deep midwicket, who somehow drops a sitter in the deep. My goodness, that is putrid.
I can scarcely believe it to be honest.
46th Over - AUS 2-202
Potts to Head with a defensive offside field.
Crunches a cut for one to forward square.
Neser gets a rare run around the corner to move to 5 from 55. Head is 121 from 118 for contrast.
Potts hangs it outside off and Head leaves.
45th Over - AUS 2-200
Stokes for his sixth straight over.
Neser has played and missed 13 times this morning, so he is wisely leaving outside off.
On the stumps, he’s defending solidly.
Maiden
