Australia vs England 5th Test Updates: England reached 211/3 in their first innings on the first day of the fifth and final Test against Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. The play was stopped a while early due to the bad light at the venue, before rain ensured that there was no more action possible after the 45 overs.

Joe Root and Harry Brook kept things stable for England as they smashed their respective fifties and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 154 runs for the fourth wicket. Root (72) is heading towards his second century of the series, having smashed his first hundred on Australian soil earlier in the series, whereas Brook (78) is at the other end with six fours and a six already under his belt.

ALSO READ: Mustafizur Rahman Issues First Reaction After Getting Released By KKR Ahead Of IPL 2026

After opting to bat first with an aim to get another consolation win in the five-match series, England had a disappointing start as they were reduced to 57/3 in the first session with Zak Crawley (16), Ben Duckett (27) and Jacob Bethell (10) departing cheaply. For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser and Scott Boland picked up a wicket each.

Australia headed into the match with an aim to return to winning ways and extend their lead in the series. They made one change with allrounder Beau Webster getting his first appearance of the series at the expense of Jhye Richardson.

ALSO READ: Why Hardik Pandya Was Not Included In India's ODI Squad For New Zealand Series Despite Hitting Century In Vijay Hazare Trophy?

With Nathan Lyon already ruled out and Todd Murphy being benched, it is the first time Australia has not fielded a specialist spinner at the SCG since 1888. On the other hand, England called up speedster Matthew Potts after Gus Atkinson was ruled out due to an injury he sustained during the Boxing Day test.

England produced a disappointing performance in the series and lost each of the first three tests to allow Australia to retain the Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action. The visitors then won their first Ashes match Down Under since 2011 with a four-wicket win in the Boxing Day test that led to days of sustained criticism about the overly grassed pitch.


Australia vs England Playing XIs, Ashes 2025 5th Test:

Australia: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (WK), Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue