The Ashes live cricket scores: Australia and England resume battle in fifth and final Test at the SCG
The first day of the fifth Test of The Ashes belonged to England, with fine knocks from Harry Brook and Joe Root helping to rescue their side from an early spot of bother.
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
04 Jan 2026 - 02:06 PM
And that’s stumps
04 Jan 2026 - 11:01 AM
Root, Brook both go to 50
04 Jan 2026 - 10:16 AM
Second session begins
04 Jan 2026 - 09:32 AM
That’s lunch
04 Jan 2026 - 09:00 AM
Touching tribute
04 Jan 2026 - 08:41 AM
Bethell nicks off!
04 Jan 2026 - 08:31 AM
Neser gets Crawley!
04 Jan 2026 - 08:06 AM
Duckett goes!
04 Jan 2026 - 07:28 AM
‘I hate doing it’: Smith on no spinner
04 Jan 2026 - 07:07 AM
No spinner again for Australia
04 Jan 2026 - 07:04 AM
England win the toss and bat
04 Jan 2026 - 07:03 AM
Hello!
Time for the ICC to step in?
It’s time for the ICC to step in and stop the decline of spin bowling to ensure the next Shane Warne or Nathan Lyon is not lost to the game, writes Craig O’Donoghue.
No spinner again for Australia
For the third time in the series, Australia have gone without a specialist spinner.
Todd Murphy — who was called into the squad after Nathan Lyon suffered a hamstring injury in Adelaide — has again been overlooked.
All-rounder Beau Webster, who can bowl some off-spin but primarily sends down medium pace, will play his first Test of the summer, replacing Jhye Richardson.
England win the toss and bat
England captain Ben Stokes has again won the toss and chosen to bat first on a pitch which is still bearing something of a green tinge.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir has again been left out, with seamer Matthew Potts coming in to replace the hamstrung Gus Atkinson.
Hello!
And welcome to our coverage of the fifth and final Test of The Ashes at the SCG.
England will be looking to back up their win in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and continue a strong finish to the series, while Australia will be looking to send the tourists home with a 4-1 scoreline.
