Tensions and tempers flared late on the second day of the ongoing fifth test of the Ashes 2025-26 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) where England captain, Ben Stokes, appeared to be telling Australia’s number three batter, Marcus Labuschagne, to ‘shut the f*** up’ as the visitors struggled for wickets in the fading light before the umpires called for early stumps as a drizzle started to make an appearance slowly into the contest.

It felt like the England captain was unhappy with Marnus Labuschagne wanting to get off the field in the cloudy conditions as the floodlights were turned on in Sydney. There was a suggestion from Labuschagne that prevented Stokes from running from a certain position where he wanted to during the final session.

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Stokes gave the South Africa-born a spray, appearing to say ‘shut the f***’, before wrapping his arm around Australia’s number three batter as the umpire, Ahsan Raza, walked towards them to make the situation light between the two veterans, which could catch the attention of the match referee later in the game.

Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne’s verbal engagement goes viral

In the first innings of the game, England posted 384 in their first innings with Joe Root celebrating his second century of the trip. The second leading run getter of the format ended up with 160 at a strike rate of over 66 with the help of 15 boundaries, while he got full support from his Yorkshire teammate, Harry Brook, who nailed 86 at a strike rate of 86 with the help of six boundaries and one six.

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Things got pretty heated 👀#Ashes pic.twitter.com/UHum32WUH0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

Australia made their way to 216 for the loss of two wickets in just 34 overs as Travis remains undefeated on 91 runs in 87 balls with the help of 15 boundaries as the home team trails by 218 heading into the 3rd display of the fifth encounter.

Brief Scores after Day 2: Australia 166/2 (Travis Head 91*, Marnus Labuschagne 48, Ben Stokes 2/30) trail England 384 (Joe Root 160, Harry Brook 84, Michael Neser 4/60) by 218 runs.

Veteran English batter Joe Root once again proved his critics wrong by scoring his second century of the Ashes series during the ongoing fifth Test in Sydney. The modern-day Test great brought up his 41st Test hundred, equalling Ricky Ponting’s record.

Before the Ashes, there was much speculation about how Root would perform in Australia, as he had not scored a single Test century there. However, he ended that drought with a masterful hundred in the Day-Night Test in Brisbane earlier in the series.

Root followed that performance with another brilliant century in the first innings of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This marked his 41st Test ton, placing him alongside Ricky Ponting in third place for the most centuries in Test cricket history.

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Most Centuries in Test Cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar: 51 centuries in 200 matches
2. Jacques Kallis: 45 centuries in 166 matches
3. Joe Root: 41 centuries in 163 matches
4. Ricky Ponting: 41 centuries in 168 matches
5. Kumar Sangakkara: 38 centuries in 134 matches

Root’s Masterclass at the SCG

Resuming on 72 after play was called early on day one, Joe Root continued his push with ease despite a strong bowling effort from the hosts and a more inconsistent pitch.

Root watched his teammates fall at the other end—Harry Brook (84), Ben Stokes (0), and Jamie Smith (46)—but remained steady, walking off at lunch on 138 not out.

In the middle session, Root reached the 150 mark, with his innings finally ending at 160 after an athletic caught-and-bowled by Michael Neser. This was his second century on the tour, having curiously not reached the mark in 14 previous Tests in Australia.

England were bowled out for 384, with Australian openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald putting together a half-century stand in reply. England trail 3-1 in the five-Test Ashes, though a win in Sydney would give them 12 vital World Test Championship 2027 points as they look to climb from seventh in the nine-team table.

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Root Achieves Major England Records

Root’s century at the SCG also brought him another major milestone. The 35-year-old became only the fourth England player to score multiple away Ashes centuries since 1994/95, joining Michael Vaughan (3), Alastair Cook (3), and Jonathan Trott (2).

Since 2021, Root has been in phenomenal form, striking 24 Test centuries in just over two years, with the next-best player managing 10 in the same period. For the first time in his career, Root has now converted each of his last five Test half-centuries into hundreds, having previously converted four in a row from 2022 to 2024.

He is now closing in on the all-time England record. The most consecutive half-centuries converted into centuries for England is six, achieved by Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, and Alastair Cook.

Australia and England are facing each other in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025–26 series. The two teams locked horns at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 4. At the end of the day’s play, England were 211/3, showing a much better performance with the bat.

It is important to note that England have already lost the Ashes, as Australia won the first three Tests of the series. England managed to win the fourth Test. Speaking about England’s batting struggles in the series so far, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticised the English players for mocking India during the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, only to face a similar situation now.

“All those English players who mocked Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar when they chose to bat on and complete their centuries, instead of accepting the offer to leave the field, will now realise that Test match centuries do not come every day. Those who mocked them back then are now finding in Australia that their bats are only producing edges or missing the middle,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

Also Read -Watch: Brendon McCullum caught playing crossword as rain halts day 1 of fifth Ashes Test

England Hope for More of the Same on Day 2

“Both the Indian batters had battled their way to their individual 80s and frustrated the bowlers. With another Test still to go, they were doing the tactical thing by keeping the fielders in the sun for some more time, and they were perfectly entitled to do so. Cricket is a great leveller, and anyone who shows arrogance instead of confidence learns that lesson very quickly,” he added.

It is worth noting that England looked solid with the bat on Day 1 of the fifth Test. Joe Root and Harry Brook were the standout performers for the visitors. Root ended the day unbeaten on 72 runs, while Brook remained not out on 78. Both batters will hope to continue the same form on Day 2 as they look to complete their centuries.

England team head coach Brendon McCullum was unexpectedly at the focal point on Day 1 of the fifth and final test match of the Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cameras caught him cheekily checking the answers to a crossword puzzle in the dressing room, creating a lighthearted moment in an otherwise tense Test match.

The funny incident happened during the 39th over of England’s innings. After a shaky start that saw England lose three early wickets for 57 runs, Joe Root and Harry Brook were rebuilding the innings at the crease. Off the field, McCullum looked relaxed as he flipped through his crossword booklet before sneaking a look at the answer page.

Commentators were quick to notice the moment on live television and could not resist a joke. One quipped that McCullum should be careful about checking answers on national TV. The clip quickly spread on social media, with fans sharing memes and poking fun at the England coach in good spirit.

Rain Interrupts Play as Root and Brook Anchor England’s Innings

Finally, despite the early setbacks, England showed some control with the bat. Root and Brook looked calm and confident, dealing effortlessly with the Australian bowlers. At Tea, England managed to get 211/3, the pair stitching an undefeated 154-run partnership that gave the visitors much-needed stability.

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Brendon McCullum is looking for the answers while doing a crossword puzzle.😂😄

(🎥- 7Cricket) pic.twitter.com/VitDDR3Qo7

— Cricket Sangrah (@CricketSangrah) January 4, 2026

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Just as England started to build momentum, the weather intervened. Poor light forced the umpires to monitor conditions late in the session, which led to an early Tea break at the ground. Soon after, rain arrived and play was stopped completely.

Although the grounds staff worked hard to get the game going again, conditions did not improve. No further play was possible after Tea, and Day 1 ended early. Even so, England will take confidence from the strong partnership, finding some solid answers on the field in a series where consistency has been hard to come by.

Veteran Australian batter Usman Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket after the 2025–26 Ashes series. The fifth Test in Sydney, starting on Sunday, January 4, will be his final match for Australia.

Khawaja made his Test debut in 2011 and had an up-and-down career. He played 87 Test matches and scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries. He was part of the Australian team that won the 2023 World Test Championship and also reached the final again two years later.

Speaking ahead of the Sydney Test, Khawaja said he is happy to retire on his own terms at the SCG, a ground he loves. He admitted that the start of the series was difficult and not being picked initially for the Adelaide Test made him feel it was time to move on.

With that in mind, let us look at three reasons why Usman Khawaja's retirement from Test cricket after the 2025–26 Ashes may not be the right decision.

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3. Australia Lack a Clear Backup Plan

Australia do not have a clear plan to replace Usman Khawaja. A similar situation happened a few years ago when David Warner retired during the home season. Even though Australia had time to plan, the transition did not go well. Moving Steve Smith up the order failed, while Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney did not get enough chances. Marnus Labuschagne also had to open briefly.

Khawaja was the one stable player in a confused batting unit. With his exit, Australia now face a big problem. They can either push Travis Head to open and strengthen the middle order with players like Josh Inglis and Jake Weatherald, or bring in a completely new opening pair from domestic cricket. Neither option is ideal, especially as the new World Test Championship cycle has just begun. Australia would have preferred more stability, and Khawaja provided exactly that.

2. His Experience Was Crucial for Tough Tours

Khawaja became a much better player against spin after the 2021 Ashes. He played a key role in Australia’s wins in Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka on the way to the 2023 World Test Championship final. Since 2022, he has scored 1,261 runs in subcontinent Tests at an average of 84, making him Australia’s best batter in such conditions.

Australia are set to tour Bangladesh and India later in the WTC cycle. They have not played a Test series in Bangladesh for 11 years and have not won a series in India since 2004. In the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Khawaja was Australia’s top scorer. Replacing a player with such a strong record will be difficult, and any poor result could hurt Australia’s chances of reaching the WTC final.

1. Australia Will Miss His Versatility

Khawaja has helped Australia many times with his flexibility. He returned to the team in the 2021–22 Ashes at No.5 and scored two centuries in Sydney. He then became a regular opener and held the role for four years. Even recently, when Steve Smith missed a Test in Adelaide, Khawaja moved back to the middle order and scored an important half-century.

With many tough matches ahead, Australia needed experienced players who could adjust to different roles. Khawaja was one such player. Without him, the team will now have to depend on new faces and show patience as they settle into the side.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has named a 12-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia. The match will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will begin on Sunday, 4 January. England head into the last game looking to finish the long tour on a positive note.

After a demanding series, England will aim to carry forward the confidence gained from their win in Melbourne. Although the visitors are trailing in the series, the recent victory has lifted spirits within the camp. The final Test gives England a chance to show fight and consistency.

The selectors have made a few changes to strengthen the squad for Sydney conditions. With the pitch often offering help to both seamers and spinners, England have focused on adding balance and depth to their bowling attack.

Fresh faces and injury update for Sydney Test

Spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Matthew Potts are the two additions to the squad. Their inclusion gives England more bowling options as they prepare for the final challenge of the tour. The team management will assess conditions before deciding the final playing XI.

Bashir has finally earned his opportunity after waiting patiently throughout the series. However, he has not played in any test match until now but is still involved in practice matches and A-team matches. His performance in the background kept him in contention for a late call-up to the team. Potts is also included in the team and is his first selection in 2024. The right-arm seamer has played 10 Tests and taken 36 wickets, and his experience could prove useful in Sydney. Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson misses out after suffering a left hamstring injury during the Melbourne Test, which ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.

England, led by Ben Stokes, currently trails the Ashes series 3–1. After losses in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, the win at Melbourne brought renewed belief. The Sydney Test now offers England one final chance to end the tour with momentum and pride.

England squad for fifth Ashes Test

Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Josh Tongue.

The fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be the last international contest for Usman Khawaja, who has decided to retire after the opening week of 2026. The left-handed opening batter, currently, has smashed 6206 runs in Tests at an average of 43.39 with 28 fifties and 16 centuries.

Usman Khawaja went after the media and former players for their double standards, citing the example of the opening Ashes Test at the Optus Stadium. He mentioned that he was the first Pakistan-born and Muslim player to ever play for Australia.

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“When I did my back, I had back spasms, it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me. I copped it for about five days straight. Everyone was piling in. Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life. Pakistani, West Indian, and coloured players.” Khawaja expressed.

Usman Khawaja hits out at media and former players

Khawaja minced no words as he hit out at the way he suffered the back injury, as he suffered the back spasm midway through the red-ball encounter, which prevented him from the opening position in the second innings, paving the way for Travis Head to take the responsibility.

“We’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough. I just thought the media and old players and everyone else had moved past them, but we obviously haven’t moved past them. All these things came back and made me realize we’re not quite there.” The Queensland batter reflected.

“I can give you a countless number of guys who have played golf the day before and been injured, and you guys (media) haven’t said a thing. I can give you even more guys who have had 15 schooners (beer) the night before, then got injured, and no one’s said a word. That’s alright, they’re just being Aussie larrikins, just being lads.” Khawaja addressed.

Australia’s veteran left-handed opening batter, Usman Khawaja, has decided to retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The 39-year-old will enter his last red-ball contest with 87 caps and 6206 runs at an average of 43.39, having scored 28 half-centuries and 16 centuries at the best score of 232.

In the ongoing Ashes series, the southpaw has notched up one vital half-century during the first innings of the third Adelaide Test, along with a duck in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. He revealed that he had considered retirement several times after the Boxing Day Test in India last year.

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“I've been thinking about it, not wholly, but for a while. Moving into this series, I kind of had an inkling in my head that this would be the last series. I talked to Rachel [Khawaja's wife] about it a fair bit, and I knew this was a big chance. I didn't leave the door fully shut, because I knew there was a chance I could play on.” Khawaja expressed in the press conference.

Usman Khawaja to end 15-year international career in Sydney

Khawaja confirmed that he would continue playing for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL after his international retirement and hopes to feature for Queensland later in the summer during the Sheffield Shield games.

“I'm glad I get to leave on my own terms, with a little bit of dignity, and go out at the SCG where I love. But I think the start of the series was a pretty tough time. Then going into Adelaide and not being picked initially for the game, that was probably a sign for me to say, 'all right, it's time to move on'.” Khawaja shed light.

“I said to him, if, at any stage right now, if you want me to retire, I will retire straight away. I have no issue. I'm not hanging on for myself. That was the most annoying thing, because I felt people were coming at me, and I felt they were saying I was selfish for staying on. But I wasn't staying on for myself.” The Pakistan-born addressed.

Australian batter Usman Khawaja is set to address the media on Friday morning in Sydney, just ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, with strong speculation surrounding his Test future. The press conference is scheduled for 8:15 AM local time, shortly before Australia’s training session at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and is expected to focus heavily on the rumours of his potential retirement.

Clarke hints at farewell as retirement talk grows louder

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the timing of Khawaja’s media interaction has raised eyebrows, especially with the Ashes already secured by Australia. While there has been no official word from the left-hander, the build-up suggests clarity on his Test future could be imminent.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes the Sydney Test could mark the final chapter of Khawaja’s international career. Clarke feels the veteran has earned the right to step away on his own terms and hopes he can finish on a high at a venue that has brought him immense success. He added that not many cricketers get the opportunity to bow out with a big score in a marquee Ashes Test.

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SCG record offers Khawaja hope despite lean Ashes run

The ongoing Ashes series, however, has been a difficult one for batters. Two of the four Tests have ended inside two days, highlighting the challenging conditions. Khawaja has struggled for consistency, scoring 153 runs in five innings, with a top score of 82. He was dropped for the third Test in Adelaide but returned after Steve Smith was ruled out due to illness, producing a gritty knock that underlined his experience.

Despite the lean run, Khawaja’s record at the SCG offers hope. He averages an exceptional 87.50 at the ground, with four centuries, and has dominated England there in the past. As Australia prepare for the series finale starting January 4, all attention will be on Khawaja’s words on Friday, which could signal the end of a distinguished Test career.

The former England captain, Michael Vaughan, requested caution post England’s overwhelming Ashes 2025/26 victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as they head into the fifth and final game of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The former captain underlined that ending the series on a clinical note would be crucial for captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

England responded strongly at the MCG as the game was played on a bowling-friendly surface, which produced 36 wickets, all failing to pace. He felt that the last win was more like a lottery and believes that this team and the management would need to show progress in winning a hard-fought contest.

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“I think it's a massive game for England [in Sydney]. It's nice to win a game of cricket, but let's be honest, it was a complete lottery in Melbourne. It wasn't a proper game of Test match cricket. For the future and for this management in particular, they need to win a strong game of cricket here. That's not a two-dayer.” Vaughan expressed in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Michael Vaughan gives England new goal for Sydney Test

England’s Melbourne win was their first Test victory in Australia since 2011, bringing an end to a wait of over 5000 days. Under McCullum, they have now played 45 Tests, winning 25 and losing 17. Vaughan stresses the New Year’s Test could prove to be decisive in their leadership set-up for the future.

“For this management to carry on, the likes of Ben and Baz - I'm pretty sure they will carry on - but I think they need a good week for that to be absolutely rock solid. There's a huge appetite within the group to keep [McCullum] on. But fundamentally, if they get pummeled in Sydney, there needs to be some honest conversations.” Vaughan added.

“I think chopping and changing is not necessarily the right thing for English cricket. Whatever happens at the end of this tour, they've got to accept that they got a lot of things wrong. If they're going to be so stubborn as to think that they were a bit unlucky, or that things didn't quite go the way they wanted.” The former England captain concluded.