The England white-ball captain, Harry Brook, has a lot to learn in his life about the off-field responsibilities after admitting that was not the only player present when he was punched by a nightclub bouncer on a night in Wellington just a few weeks before the beginning of the Ashes 2025/26 down under. 

The statement has been issued post their victory during the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Kandy where Brook noted to the public on the apology he made earlier in the trip. He added he had lied about being out on his own at the time of the incident as he aimed to save his team-mates, which was a vital matter at that time.

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“I accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge that others were present that evening. I regret my previous comments and my intention was to protect my team-mates from being drawn into a situation that arose as a result of my own decisions.” Brook expressed in that statement.

Harry Brook accepts false comments on nightclub bouncer incident

The managing director of the team, Rob Key, claimed that no format action had been taken after the incident. In fact, Brook was fined the maximum of the money and placed a final warning about the off-field conduct, as he came close to lose his white-ball captaincy.

“We went out for a couple of drinks beforehand and then I took it upon myself to go out for a few more and I was on my own there. I was trying to get into a club and the bouncer just clocked me, unfortunately. Like I said, I shouldn't have been in that situation from the start. I wasn't absolutely leathered, I'd had one too many drinks.” The Yorkshire batter addressed.

“I have apologised and will continue to reflect on the matter. This has been a challenging period in my career, but one from which I am learning. I recognize that I have more to learn regarding the off-field responsibilities that come with leadership and captaincy. I remain committed to developing in this area and to improving both personally and professionally.” He concluded.

A video has gone viral of top-class Australian batter, Steve Smith, where he was seen to hit a baseball with a cricket bat at Yankee Stadium in America. It came during his introduction with the former England player and the renowned commentator Kevin Pietersen as they shared several analyses of the game and his career.

Steve Smith, who currently won the Ashes 2025/26 for the Australia side by a margin of 4-1, celebrated a fine century in the final Test at the home Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Apart from that, he also played a sensational knock of 61 during the second day-night Test match at the Gabba before missing the third one in Adelaide due to injury.

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Steve Smith has currently scored 10763 runs in 123 Test matches for the national side and an average of over 56, thanks to his 37 centuries and 44 half-centuries at the best score of 239 at Lord's Cricket Ground.

Steve Smith smashes basball with cricket bat in viral video 

Having already taken his retirement from the ODI format with 5800 runs in 170 matches at a strike rate of 86, thanks to his 12 centuries and 35 centuries, his full focus remains on the Test matches, with T20I seems to be the least format expected to play for the National side. His last game for Australia in the shortest format was last year against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.

Watch the video here: 

Steve Smith Hitting Baseballs With A Cricket Bat! 😮

(Inside The Yankees Stadium!) 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/Fc4NBMs7V4

— The Switch | Kevin Pietersen (@kptheswitch) January 10, 2026

Just two days after his last Test match in Sydney, he turned up at the same ground for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL 2025/26 clash against the Hobart Hurricanes, where he remained unbeaten on 19 runs in an opening partnership with Babar Azam, before the rain curtailed the game and eventually saw it get abandoned.

There were questions of whether he would retire after this Ashes series, but Steve Smith has revealed that he would still love to win two away Test series in India and England, which are going to happen by the end of the 2027 English summer, after which he may decide to call his time in the red ball format.

England captain Ben Stokes’ dream of winning an Ashes Down Under against Australia vanished as the visitors claimed a 4-1 Series defeat, including the loss in the 5th Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). More than their skills and abilities in the field, questions were raised about England’s behavior between games against Australia, which came under scrutiny on several occasions.

Many things were brushed under the carpet when the team was winning; players are expected to bear the brunt of their lack of fight in Australia. The reports of The Telegraph have claimed that England opted to stay at Crown Towers, a Casino Complex, despite not playing a warm-up against Australia, and decided to have an Inter squad game ahead of the opening Perth Test.

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There is a point in England’s premier pacer, Brydon Carse, who ended up as the highest wicket taker on the trip, accidentally lost thousands of dollars in cash before the money was given back to him by an England Cricket Journalist.

England players' drunken and Casino story drops shocker

Reports also that the England cricketer stayed up after hours to watch the Premier League football in one of the places that was open till late. England players’ behavior was under the scanner even before the captain, Ben Stokes, landed in Australia as the white ball captain, Harry Brook, had a drunken escapade where he was punched by a bouncer after an argument, and Silk reported the accident before being let off with a warning in addition to £30,000 worth of fine.

After a defeat at the Gabba during the second game of the series under lights, the team had a 4-day Noosa trip, a resort town on the outskirts of Queensland, where a video of Ben Duckett being drunk when violent social media saw other players also being spotted drinking and partying during the trip.

The Director of Cricket of the England Cricket Board. Rob Key was not pleased with the players at a launch stand investigation into the allegations of excessive drinking, as the investigation started only after Australia took an unbeatable lead of 3-zero into the series.

Australia showed their strength at home once again, defeating their arch-rivals England to win the 2025-26 Ashes series 4-1. The Men in Yellow sealed the series with a five-wicket win in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday, January 8.

This is Australia’s fourth consecutive Ashesseries win at home, a streak that started with the famous 2013-14 series. Back then, the Michael Clarke-led team were at their best, handing England a 5-0 whitewash as they left Australia completely broken and defeated.

There are some patterns and similarities between the two series, which are 12 years apart. Here are five similarities between Australia’s wins in the Ashes 2025-26 and the 2013 series.

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1. A Left-Arm Pacer Leads the Wickets

The 2013-14 Ashes is remembered for Mitchell Johnson, who took 37 wickets at an average of 13.97. He troubled England throughout the series and finished as the leading wicket-taker, 15 wickets ahead of Ryan Harris. He was also named Player of the Series.

Similarly, Mitchell Starc led the 2025-26 Ashes with 31 wickets at an average of 19.93, finishing nine wickets ahead of Brydon Carse.

2. A Left-Handed Australian Opener Tops the Runs

In the 2013-14 Ashes, David Warner scored 523 runs at an average of 58.11, including two centuries and two fifties. He dominated the England bowlers.

In the 2025-26 series, Travis Head, who was not originally an opener, scored 629 runs in five Tests. He hit three centuries and ended as the top scorer of the series.

3. England Faces a No.3 Crisis

England’s success in Australia depends heavily on the No.3 batter. In 2013-14, Jonathan Trott left the tour early after scoring 10 and 9 in the first Test. Joe Root and, later, Ian Bell struggled in the role.

In the 2025-26 Ashes, Ollie Pope scored only 125 runs in three Tests. England then tried Jacob Bethell, who struggled at first but later scored a memorable century in Sydney.

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4. Hotspot and Snicko Issues

The 2025-26 Ashes saw several problems with the Decision Review System, especially Snicko, which caused confusion due to delayed or missing spikes.

Similar issues were seen in the 2013-14 series, including Joe Root’s controversial dismissal in Perth despite no clear evidence from Hotspot.

5. Veteran Retirements and England Coach Under Pressure

During the 2013-14 Ashes, Jonathan Trott and Graeme Swann retired during the series. England coach Andy Flower faced heavy criticism and later stepped down.

In the 2025-26 Ashes, veteran batter Usman Khawaja retired during the series due to injury. England coach Brendon McCullum is also under pressure after a poor campaign and questions over the ‘Bazball’ approach.

Australia retain Ashes 4-1 against England

Australia concluded an overwhelming series performance against England in the Fifth Test with a 5-wicket success which sealed the Ashes 4-1 for Australia as they maintained ownership of the Urn. The match served as an appropriate conclusion to a hard-fought summer filled with individual brilliance, long batting marathons, and decisive bowling success. England began strongly by winning the toss and choosing to bat; however, the English cricket team could not keep pace with the overall depth and stability shown by Australia across all disciplines.

The England first innings was anchored by a superb innings of 160 by Joe Root, who weathered a fair number of collapses in England's batting order. Harry Brook added an impressive contribution with his aggressive 84 which took England to a very respectable 384; however, the Australian bowlers shared the shared the workload evenly with Michael Neser collecting 4 wickets and Mitchell Starc striking at critical phases. Despite Root's valiant effort there was no way for England to build on their platform to attain a commanding total on a surface that became increasingly batting-friendly.

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In its first innings, Australia immediately responded with an incredible 567, establishing control of the match. Travis Head was unstoppable, scoring 163 at just shy of one run per ball with his aggressive batting, while Steven Smith displayed expert levels of patience and precision in his craftsmanship by scoring 138 runs. Additional substantial scores from Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster added further pressure to England's already long task of bowling for prolonged stretches. By the time Australia had finalized its innings, it had amassed a significant lead that left England under immense pressure to perform.

Bethell’s Grit and Australia’s Composure

However, England displayed strong fight during its second innings with a remarkable innings of 154 from Jacob Bethell. Batting for more than four hours and demonstrating high levels of composure and endurance, Bethell formed several partnerships that allowed England to maintain a slim chance. Nevertheless, the disciplined accuracy of Scott Boland and the extreme pace of Mitchell Starc produced continued breakthroughs preventing England from building an insurmountable target. England was eventually bowled out for 342, leaving Australia a target of 160 runs to win the match.

Although Australia lost two early wickets during the last day of the Ashes, they showed tremendous quality by making it through with relative ease as Alex Carey and Cameron Green kept them going without being dismissed. Their calmness proved how much depth, consistency and confidence this team has, even in pressure situations. Travis Head received deserved accolades for being the Player-of-the-Match for his great first innings batting performance, while Mitchell Starc took home the Player-of-the-Series award. With this victory, Australia became the undisputed champion of the 2025-26 Ashes series by their undeniable strength and success.

Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from Test cricket on January 8, 2026, marking the end of his journey in Test cricket at Sydney Cricket Ground. It was a special moment because SCG was the same place where he made his Test debut for Australia back in 2011.

The emotional moments unfolded during the fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2025–26 series against England. Right after getting out in Australia's second innings, Khawaja took a moment to thank the ground, the fans, and the journey that shaped his career.

As he walked off the field for the last time in Test whites, Khawaja went down on his knees and performed sajda, thanking God for his long career. The SCG crowd responded with a warm standing ovation, celebrating one of Australia’s most respected batters.

A meaningful farewell and a proud Test career

Khawaja came in to bat at No. 5 while Australia were chasing England’s target. He looked uncomfortable at the crease and was bowled by Josh Tongue for six runs, scoring one boundary during his short stay.

Even though the inning was brief, the moment that followed stood out. Khawaja raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd before kissing the pitch and performing sajda, an Islamic prayer that shows humility and thankfulness. It reflected both his faith and his respect for the game.

Watch the video here

Usman Khawaja performs Sajda at the SCG after his final international innings. ❤️pic.twitter.com/Dzt4LNGP23

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) January 8, 2026

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The Pakistan-born Australian finished his Test career with 6,229 runs from 159 innings at an average of 42.95, including 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries. The Ashes 2025–26 series was difficult for him due to back issues, but his impact on Australian cricket will be remembered for years. His farewell at the SCG was a fitting and emotional end to a memorable Test journey.

Australia completed a commanding Ashes 2025–26 campaign by defeating England by five wickets in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The hosts chased down a target of 160 on the fifth day to seal the series 4–1 and underline their dominance at home once again.

England began the final day at 302 for eight and tried to delay the result with a strong lower-order effort. Jacob Bethell stood tall with a brilliant career-best 154, showing great patience and control at the crease. His innings gave England some hope of setting a tricky target.

That resistance ended when Mitchell Starc removed the last two wickets to finish the innings. Starc ended the series with 31 wickets, making him one of the biggest match-winners of the Ashes and helping Australia stay firmly in control throughout the contest.

Australia stay strong in Ashes and World Test Championship race

Australia started the chase positively as openers Jake Weatherald and Travis Head added quick runs at the top. The two brought up a good opening stand before England struck back with two quick wickets to create some pressure on the home team for a while.

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Marnus Labuschagne played the anchor role in settling nerves with a fluent knock in the middle order. Cameron Green and Alex Carey then took over, adding an unbeaten stand to guide Australia safely towards the target without further trouble.

Carey hit the winning runs before the tea break as Australia sealed both the match and the series. The victory also strengthened Australia's lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings. They now sit well clear of the chasing pack, while New Zealand and South Africa follow behind. England, meanwhile, slipped further down the table after another tough tour.

Updated WTC points table after AUS vs ENG 5th Test 2026

England has faced a hard Ashes series, but at the Sydney Cricket Ground a new chapter was opened as Jacob Bethell presented himself on the largest stage with a spectacular maiden Test century against Australia.

Batting on the fourth day of the last and fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, the 22-year-old left hander impressed with an innings that showed his patience, dynamism and incredible maturity. Coming in early when England lost Zak Crawley cheaply, Bethell found himself immediately under pressure. Yet, what happened next was a classic demonstration of hard work.

A coming-of-age knock on the grandest stage

Bethell hit his hundred with a beautiful four from Beau Webster, shimmying down the track and hitting the ball over mid-on as the crowd went wild. He marked the occasion by taking off his helmet, acknowledging the crowds, and pointing his bat to his family - a moment which could not have expressed better the feeling of the occasion. It is important to point out that this was not only his first Test century but also his first-ever first-class century, thus making the knock even more special.

Ex-players and spectators unanimously commended Bethell's character. Instead of going for milestones, he simply let the tension simmer; his on-field presence got tested by seven fiery balls at 99 before he finally passed the mark. After facing 162 balls, he reached the three figures with shots like clear drives, bold cuts, and sound decision-making against the top-notch Australian bowlers.

Watch the video:

A maiden Test century for Jacob Bethell! What a way to do it 🤩#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/lXSUViEVrR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 7, 2026

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In a contest wherein England quite frequently seemed to be at their wit's end, Bethell's straight drive was a signal of the new generation. Not only did it save England from the imminent danger of an innings defeat but also forced Australia to take on the challenge of batting in the next innings, thus, creating an interesting last chapter of the Test. For England, the Ashes may be gone, but at the SCG, a star was unmistakably born.

Maiden first-class hundreds by England players in Test cricket

Joe Root is moving closer to lasting greatness as he narrowed the gap with Sachin Tendulkar on the list of players with the most Test runs. He achieved this with a brilliant 160-run knock on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney. It was Root’s 41st century in Test cricket, which helped him equal Ricky Ponting on the list of most Test hundreds. Only Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar are now ahead of him.

Root is also just 1,984 runs behind the Indian legend on the all-time Test runs list. Having turned 35 last week, it appears he is on track to challenge Tendulkar’s record based on his current form. For now, let us take a look at the statistical comparison between the two after 41 Test centuries.

In terms of statistics, Sachin Tendulkar was well ahead of Root when he scored his 41st Test century in 2008 against England in Chennai. Tendulkar reached the milestone in his 155th Test and 254th innings, while Root achieved it in his 163rd Test and 297th innings. However, at this stage of their careers, Root has scored 1,524 more runs than Tendulkar had at the same point. Tendulkar averaged an impressive 54.68 after the Chennai Test where he scored his 41st Test hundred, while Root’s average currently stands at 51.23.

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How many runs does Joe Root need to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record?

1,984 runs are still a big target for any player, including Joe Root. Root is currently 35 years old and may need a little more than two years to score close to 2,000 runs, even if he continues in his current form. If he loses form during this period, the former England captain may need more time to reach the milestone.

Root has already hinted at touring Australia again for the next Ashes series, four years from now. He could break Tendulkar’s record if his career lasts until 2029. However, his form and fitness will play a key role in achieving this goal.