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
07 Jan 2026 - 03:01 PM
STUMPS ENGLAND 8-302 lead by 118
07 Jan 2026 - 02:46 PM
WICKET Carse ct Smith b Boland 14
07 Jan 2026 - 02:25 PM
WICKET Stokes ct Smith b Webster 1
07 Jan 2026 - 02:20 PM
WICKET Smith run out Weatherald
07 Jan 2026 - 01:28 PM
WICKET Jacks ct Green b Wesbter 0
07 Jan 2026 - 01:23 PM
WICKET Brook LBW Webster 42
07 Jan 2026 - 01:13 PM
JACOB BETHELL HAS 100
07 Jan 2026 - 12:40 PM
ENGLAND IN THE LEAD
07 Jan 2026 - 12:15 PM
TEA ENGLAND 3-174 Trail by 9
07 Jan 2026 - 11:33 AM
WICKET Root LBW Boland 6
07 Jan 2026 - 11:09 AM
50 for Jacob Bethell
07 Jan 2026 - 10:24 AM
WICKET Duckett b Neser 42
07 Jan 2026 - 09:35 AM
LUNCH ENGLAND 1-80 trail by 103
07 Jan 2026 - 09:28 AM
Green drops Duckett
07 Jan 2026 - 08:10 AM
STARC DOES IT AGAIN!
07 Jan 2026 - 07:53 AM
AUSTRALIA ALL OUT 567
07 Jan 2026 - 07:47 AM
WICKET Starc b Tongue 6
07 Jan 2026 - 07:24 AM
WICKET Smith ct Smith b Tongue 138
07 Jan 2026 - 07:13 AM
Ben Stokes injured
07 Jan 2026 - 07:12 AM
50 for Beau Webster
60th Over - ENG 5-245
Head replaces Webster and is full to start.
Smith and Bethell exchange singles and there’s a push for two.
58th Over - ENG 5-240
A slight misfield allows Bethell a single.
Neser bowling to a packed off-side field.
57th Over - ENG 5-239
Smith reaches out to drive forward of point and cuts two late to third man.
Smith knocks one down the ground.
Dragged down and Bethell flicks one.
56th Over - ENG 5-232
Bethell cuts a single.
Close! Inside edge from Smith goes past the stumps.
Bethell gets a quick single through midwicket.
Smith comes down and knocks a single to mid-on.
55th Over - ENG 5-228
Neser replaces Starc, and he beats Bethell’s defence.
He pushes two into cover.
Neser goes down leg and Carey can only palm it away as tehy run a bye.
52nd Over - ENG 5-220
Jamie Smith gets off the mark with a push into the offside.
What a crazy over. England lead by 37.
“Will Jacks, how do you walk back into that dressing room? You cannot be disappointed with yourself. It’s a rank slog. Second ball, bottom of the bat and it’s a good catch in the deep,” Ricky Ponting says.
WICKET Jacks ct Green b Wesbter 0
WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
Will Jacks comes in ahead of Smith and from the second ball just hoiks Webster high into midwicket where Green moves to take a good catch on the move.
Brainless five minutes from England.
WICKET Brook LBW Webster 42
OUT OF NOWHERE, AUSTRALIA HAVE A WICKET.
Massive turn beats Brook’s backfoot defence given not out and Smith reviews very late.
Carey was keen Webster wasn’t as confident.
Height seemingly the issue but Brook is so far back and hit on the back leg. Three reds! And Webster has his first wicket with spin in Australia.
51st Over - ENG 3-219
Bethell inside edges past the stumps. His first false shot of the day.
Brook backs away to make room and almost edges to Carey.
FOUR! Charges and edges through the third man and slips for a streaky boundary. 100 partnership up.
Neser fumbles to give Brook a single.
JACOB BETHELL HAS 100
Beau Webster brought on with Bethell on 99. Going to be spin this time.
SIX! A MAIDEN FIRST CLASS 100 for Jacob Bethell! Comes down the track and nails the shot over midwicket.
The SCG rises for a fantastic innings. Has not offered a chance, England players out on the balcony, family emotional in the stands, great scenes.
“England have found a diamond. Wonderful maiden test match 100 from Jacob Bethel. Brought up in a fine way. All the England players out on the balcony now, the superstition is gone. They can move and celebrate with this Sydney crowd. The Family look emotional, Bethel looks like he’s taking it in his stride. Wonderful scenes,” Stuart Broad says on comms.
