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.

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.

Watch the video here: 

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.

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 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.

The calendar year 2025 in Test cricket came to an end on Saturday, December 27, with the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG finishing inside two days. Australia, who currently lead the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, lost the final Test match of the year against England.

The year 2025 saw several players from different nations deliver outstanding performances in the longest format of the game. Bowlers, in particular, played a key role and consistently made an impact across conditions.

Here, we take a look at the Top 10 Test wicket-takers of 2025, highlighting the bowlers who dominated Test cricket throughout the year.

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10. Noman Ali

Pakistan spinner Noman Ali finished as the joint tenth-highest wicket-taker of 2025. He claimed 30 wickets in four matches, proving to be a key spin option for Pakistan, especially in testing home conditions.

9. Simon Harmer

Simon Harmer also picked up 30 wickets in four matches for South Africa in 2025. He enjoyed a stellar Test series in India, where he played a major role in helping the Proteas whitewash the hosts 2–0, making him South Africa’s find of the year.

8. Jasprit Bumrah

Despite limited appearances due to injuries and workload management, Jasprit Bumrah led India’s pace attack with authority. He finished the year with 31 wickets in eight matches, once again proving his consistency in the longest format.

7. Scott Boland

Scott Boland continued his impressive form for Australia, taking 32 wickets in six matches with his disciplined line and length. He also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in a Day/Night Test during the year.

6. Josh Tongue

Josh Tongue’s rise in England’s bowling attack continued in 2025 as he claimed 33 wickets in six matches. His pace and bounce troubled batters, and he ended the year with a memorable five-wicket haul at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

5. Taijul Islam

Bangladesh leaned heavily on Taijul Islam, who finished with 33 wickets in six matches. His accuracy and control made him the team’s most reliable bowler throughout the year.

4. Ben Stokes

England Test captain Ben Stokes carried much of the team’s responsibility, ending 2025 with 33 wickets from nine matches. Many of his wickets came in crucial moments when England needed breakthroughs.

3. Blessing Muzarabani

Blessing Muzarabani emerged as a major force for Zimbabwe, taking 42 wickets in 10 matches across different conditions.

2. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj delivered a standout year for India, finishing with 43 wickets in 10 matches. His impact was especially strong in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, where he played all five Tests despite fitness issues.

1. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc finished 2025 as the leading Test wicket-taker, claiming 55 wickets in 11 matches. Leading Australia’s attack during the Ashes, he once again showed why he remains one of the world’s best fast bowlers.

When it comes to Test cricket, there must be a balance between bat and ball; otherwise, it becomes quite one-sided for one aspect of the game. The fourth Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended in less than two days, which was shorter in length than the opening fixture at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

The two-day finish at the MCG will now hit the financial structure of Cricket Australia, which is set to lose a massive amount for no cricket in the last three days of the clash. It has already happened during the Western Australia Test. The CA executive discussed the nightmare circumstances.

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“I didn't sleep well last night, put it that way. It was an amazing day of Test cricket, so for that record number of people who were here, boy, they've had an experience. But our challenge is to make sure we can continue those experiences day after day. That's the challenge for all of us.” Todd Grenberg, the CA chief executive, added.

CA chief executive reacts to two-day finish of Ashes 2025/26 in MCG

England’s captain, Ben Stokes, wasn’t happy either with the two-day finish as he lamented the Boxing Day, which saw 36 wickets falling in the six sessions of the Test. Both innings were finished for 20 wickets inside the opening day of the Melbourne Test before England completed the four-wicket win.

“It's hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, especially commercially. I'm not suggesting I'll go around talking to ground staff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer.” Greenberg addressed.

“The pitch had plenty in it, and the bowlers were always in the game. The message was to stay positive, not let the bowlers settle, and make them keep running in and hitting those tough areas. I thought the way we balanced intent with discipline was brilliant. It took courage, but the lads handled it superbly.” Stokes concluded.

The England captain, Ben Stokes, has given his full support to the opening batter, Ben Duckett, whose drunk video has gone viral on social media, which has led the ECB to investigate their mini three-day Noosa break between the second and third Ashes 2025/26 Test, which was planned by head coach Brendon McCullum.

The video of Ben Duckett showed the drunk individual forgetting his way to the hotel. The ECB reckoned that they had been aware of the video and had been trying to establish the facts, as Rob Key flew to Australia ahead of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting on Boxing Day.

See Also: ECB to investigate England team’s Noosa break ahead of 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test

“It's all pretty fresh and pretty new. I've obviously reached out and spoken to him and offered my complete support to him throughout this. He's such an important player for this team, and we've still got two games of cricket to play. He's an incredibly influential person within this group.” Stokes expressed in the pre-match press conference.

Ben Stokes vows to look after his England players

On the eve of Christmas, Stokes vowed to keep an eye on his players’ welfare, having gone through the same issue in the past. He also highlighted that they have two more Tests in Melbourne and Sydney and would look to do their best to finish the trip on a high.

Watch the video here: 

England captain Ben Stokes has vowed to stand by his players following a 'pile-on.'

More: https://t.co/Vd1tT4sRgA pic.twitter.com/SsBaGYBQyp

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 24, 2025

“I have first-hand experience of how this can affect people. I will always support my players, particularly in a moment like this where everything feels like it's on top of you - and for some players more than others as well. My job as England captain is obviously to be out there and get results for the team, but also to try to give people the best chance of being in a mental space.” Stokes noted.

“Supporting them and letting them know that I will be there for them through thick and thin is very, very important, and Ben Duckett knows that. I know what it's like. It's not a nice place to be in, but he knows that he's got the support of the other guys around him as well.” The England captain shed light. 

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 has suffered a major setback with several top England players set to miss the tournament. With the IPL and PSL clashing in the 2026 season, the dominance of the IPL has once again impacted player availability, and the England Cricket Board’s (ECB) strict workload policy has added further trouble for the PSL.

According to recent reports, England’s centrally contracted red-ball players will not receive No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to play in PSL 11. The ECB has prioritised the County Championship and England’s home Test summer, which includes a three-match Test series against New Zealand in June 2026. While the IPL continues to remain an exception, players who skip or go unsold in the IPL are expected to rest rather than join other overseas leagues.

England players unavailable for PSL 2026

As per current ECB guidelines and contract structures, the following England players are unlikely to feature in PSL 11:

• Ben Stokes
• Harry Brook
• Mark Wood
• Jamie Smith
• Gus Atkinson
• Rehan Ahmed
• Saqib Mahmood
• Ollie Robinson
• Matthew Potts
• Brydon Carse
• Zak Crawley
• Joe Root (unlikely due to workload management)

Most of these players hold red-ball or multi-format central contracts, making them unavailable during the PSL window, which runs from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

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Why ECB has blocked PSL participation

The ECB has tightened its NOC policy to protect player fitness ahead of a busy international calendar. With the County Championship starting in April and international commitments immediately after, the board is unwilling to risk injuries or burnout. The IPL remains the only overseas league given special clearance due to its commercial agreements and fixed calendar slot.

Impact on PSL franchises

The absence of marquee England names significantly affects PSL franchises, especially with the league expanding to eight teams in 2026. Teams are now expected to shift focus towards:

• Unsold IPL players
• Australian and West Indies cricketers
• Emerging overseas talent

With growing competition from the IPL and limited access to England’s elite players, PSL 2026 faces a challenging road ahead as it works to retain global relevance and star appeal.

England captain Ben Stokes has urged his side to “show a bit of dog” as they prepare for a must-win third Ashes Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, with the five-match series hanging delicately in the balance. Trailing 0-2 after heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England face a familiar yet daunting challenge, one that Stokes believes his team is mentally equipped to handle.

Drawing parallels with the 2023 Ashes in England, where his side bounced back from a similar deficit, Stokes insisted that the clarity of the task remains unchanged. “We’ve been in this position before,” he said on the eve of the Test. “Everyone knows what needs to happen. If anything, it makes things simpler and clearer.”

Rather than viewing the situation as pressure-filled, Stokes believes the deficit has sharpened England’s focus. He dismissed any suggestion that the players now owe him or the management a response for their backing, stressing trust over obligation. “These are the moments where the players you back are trusted to deliver,” he said. “I would never say you owe me. Go out, back yourself, and do what needs to be done.”

Watch the video:

If any team can do it, this team can.

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 16, 2025

Backing you to have a BIG week, JT! 👊🔥

Hear from Ben Stokes on our preparation, fight, belief, the Oval pitch and much more ahead of the 3rd Test 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 16, 2025

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Show a bit of dog Stokes challenges England ahead of Adelaide Test

Stokes pointed to England’s Lord’s Test win against India earlier this year as an example of how intensity and confrontation can spark a response. “That’s fight to me,” he explained. “Looking your opposition in the eye and showing a bit of dog gives you the best chance.”

England have made just one change for Adelaide, recalling Josh Tongue in place of Gus Atkinson, while sticking with Will Jacks as the spinning all-round option ahead of Shoaib Bashir. Despite questions around selection, Stokes made it clear that mindset matters more than personnel. 

“We’ve had proper, meaningful conversations,” he said. “All the talking is done now. What matters is what gets shown on the field.” With England winless in Australia for 15 years and the series on the line, Stokes’ message is clear: resilience, fight, and belief must now translate into performance.

After being 2-0 down post the first couple of Tests of the Ashes 2025/26 in Perth and Brisbane, England find themselves under tremendous pressure to turn the tables in the make-or-break third Test at the Adelaide Oval, which begins on December 17. They have drafted in Josh Tongue but have decided to go against Shoaib Bashir for the most spin-friendly surface. 

The head coach, Brendon McCullum, backed their struggling top seven on the weekend as captain Ben Stokes decided to make one solitary change with Gus Atkinson making way. The Surrey pacer had a difficult trip with an average of 78.66, which is the worst of the England bowlers with just three wickets from 54 overs- the first of which came in his 41st over of the series.

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In Tongue, England have opted for a wicket-taking option rather than the control they get from Matthew Potts. The seamer will earn his seventh Test cap since debuting in the 2023 home season, with 31 dismissals at an average of 30.

England make one change ahead of Ashes 2025/26 Test in Adelaide

Tongue’s first meeting with Australia came at Lord’s during the last Ashes when he took five wickets in the match, including Steve Smith twice. The 28-year-old has dismissed Smith four times in all, once for Worcestershire in the 2023 County Championship when the batter was playing for Sussex, besides playing him in this year’s The Hundred.

Ollie Pope, despite a struggling first four innings down under, has retained his place. It was a surprising factor that the management didn’t pick Bashir in the eleven, with Australia set to welcome their veteran spinner, Nathan Lyon. They built Bashir for this specific tour for the last two years, and still decided to leave him out in the crunch game.

That means Will Jacks will remain the top spin option for the visitors. He was tidy for his 11.3 overs in Brisbane’s pink-ball Test, returning with 1/34. Joe Root can also contribute a few overs by rotating his arm.

England’s playing XI for Ashes 2025/26 Test in Adelaide

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk..), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.