Honestly, if you missed the final moments at the SCG last week, you missed a bit of history. The dust has barely settled on the 2025-26 Ashes, but the way Australia wrapped up that 4-1 series victory over England feels like it’s going to be debated in pubs from Perth to London for the next decade.
Australia won. Again.
But it wasn't the "standard" dominant whitewash we've seen in years past. It was weirder. Faster. Messier.
We saw Mitchell Starc turn into a literal wrecking ball, Travis Head play like he was in a video game, and England... well, England gave us the "Jacob Bethell show" just when everyone thought they were dead and buried. If you're looking for the latest on australia vs england live cricket, the series might be technically over, but the fallout is just getting started as the teams pivot toward the white-ball matches and the U19 World Cup battles currently lighting up Namibia.
The SCG Finale: What Really Happened with Australia vs England Live Cricket
The fifth Test in Sydney was supposed to be a coronation. Australia had already retained the urn. They were 3-0 up before England snatched a chaotic win at the MCG on Boxing Day, ending a 14-year drought on Aussie soil.
Sydney was different.
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England actually made a fight of it. Joe Root, finally—finally—scored a Test century in Australia. It took him forever, didn't it? 160 runs of pure grit. Then came the surprise of the summer: Jacob Bethell. The kid has barely any first-class pedigree, yet he stood out there and smoked 154 against a bowling attack that has traumatized better players.
When England set Australia 160 to win on that final day, there was a genuine hum of "wait, could they actually do this?" in the stands.
The Run Chase Drama
Australia didn't make it easy.
- Travis Head went for 29, caught in the deep trying to end the game in twenty minutes.
- Steve Smith copped a beauty from Will Jacks for 12.
- Usman Khawaja, in his final ever Test innings, fell for just 6.
It was tense. It was quiet. The SCG was holding its breath until Alex Carey and Cameron Green put their heads down and steered the ship home. Australia won by five wickets, but the 4-1 scoreline feels a bit harsh on an England side that actually showed some teeth in the final two weeks.
Why Mitchell Starc is the Undisputed King of This Series
If you want to talk about impact, you have to talk about Starc. He finished with 31 wickets at an average of 19.9. Think about that for a second. In an era where "Bazball" is supposed to make bowlers redundant, Starc just kept steaming in.
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He didn't just take wickets; he broke records. He passed Wasim Akram for the most wickets by a left-arm pacer in Test history. He even overtook Stuart Broad for most Test runs at number nine.
He was everywhere.
The man is 35 years old and somehow bowling faster than he did five years ago. It defies logic. He was the difference. While England’s Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse showed glimpses of brilliance—Carse ended with 22 wickets, which is massive for a debut tour—they couldn't match Starc’s ability to just blow a game open in the first five overs.
The "TravBall" Phenomenon vs. England's Identity Crisis
Travis Head finished with 629 runs. He’s basically become the human embodiment of a headache for Ben Stokes.
Every time England thought they had a foot in the door, Head would walk out and hit a 70-ball hundred. It happened in Perth. It happened in Sydney. It’s a style of play that even the English media has started calling "TravBall," and honestly, it’s more effective than the original version right now.
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England, on the other hand, look like a team stuck between two worlds. They want to be aggressive, but their top order—outside of Zak Crawley’s occasional cameos—frequently looked like they were batting on a glass floor. Harry Brook became the fastest man to 3,000 Test runs during this series, which is a staggering feat, but even he’ll tell you he threw his wicket away too cheaply in the games that mattered.
Key Stats from the 2025-26 Series
- Most Runs: Travis Head (629)
- Highest Score: Travis Head (163) and Jacob Bethell (154)
- Most Wickets: Mitchell Starc (31)
- Crowd Record: 94,199 at the MCG on Day 1 (a new world record for a single day of Test cricket)
What’s Next for Australia vs England Live Cricket?
The Test whites are packed away, but the rivalry isn't sleeping. If you're checking the scores today, the focus has shifted to the U19 World Cup.
As of January 16, 2026, the "Young Lions" and the "Aussie U19s" are currently battling it out in the group stages in Zimbabwe and Namibia. It’s a glimpse into the future. Australia’s Oliver Peake is being touted as the next big thing, while England’s Farhan Ahmed (yes, Rehan’s brother) is already spinning webs around batters.
Back in the senior camp, the fallout of the 4-1 loss is hitting England hard. Ben Stokes has already hinted at a "squad refresh" before they head back home. Meanwhile, Australia is celebrating the end of the Usman Khawaja era. Watching "Uzzie" walk off the SCG for the last time was probably the most emotional moment of the summer. He’s been the heartbeat of that opening stand for years, and replacing him isn't going to be as simple as just picking the next guy in the Shield.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the trajectory of these two teams, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Domestic Transition: Australia’s opening slot is officially vacant. Watch the Sheffield Shield scores over the next month. Jake Weatherald got a look in Sydney, but the door is wide open for someone to grab that spot permanently before the tour to India.
- Monitor the White-Ball Shift: England’s ODI and T20 squads are arriving in Australia later this year (November 2026). This is where they usually thrive. Expect a completely different tempo when the pink and white balls come out.
- The 150th Anniversary Hype: Mark March 2027 in your calendar. There is a one-off Day/Night Test scheduled at the MCG to celebrate 150 years of Test cricket. It’s going to be the biggest single cricket event in a generation.
The 2025-26 Ashes might be over, but the evolution of both these teams is just starting. Australia has the trophy, but England might have found a future superstar in Bethell. It’s a weird, brilliant time to be a cricket fan.
Stay tuned to the U19 World Cup scores this week for the next chapter of this rivalry. Australia is currently favored to take down Ireland, while England is neck-and-neck with Pakistan in their respective groups. The cycle never really stops.