The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has always been the stage for nailbiting finishes, and Day 4 of the fifth and final Ashes rubber of 2025-26 was no exception. Tired in the field after bowling 152 overs and seeing Australia amass 567 runs, England had shed pretension to be so one former tough guys that they were all conspiracy theories. The urn has already been secured by the hosts, but the world champion’s ‘Pride of Lion’ was at stake as Ben Stokes’ men looked to avoid heading home without a Test win from an imposing 183-run deficit.
As the players walked off for tea, quite how much this match had changed in those few dozen salutary overs from Australia cakewalk to tactical chess match was hard to get your head around. Then England, who were bowled out for 384 in their first innings, started showing that they wouldn’t roll over either — at least not that meekly — by taking Day-4’s afternoon session to reach 174/3.
Australia Dominates– Head and Smith Guns Blazing Australia’s uploader head and smith led from the front
The story of the opening three days was most definitely the fierce Australian batting. Starting day four at 518/7, the hosts were keen to bat England completely out of the game. At the heart of it for Australia was Travis Head – his electric 163 from 166 balls served as a stark reminder to the world that he is the most dangerous middle-order batter in cricket. Head’s counter-attacking approach rocked England into a position from which it was difficult to escape as soon as he walked out to the crease on Day 3.
Not to be left behind, Steve Smith weighted the other end with a classic 138. In the process Smith reached a milestone that only the peerless Sir Donald Bradman has in terms of being the second highest run-scorer in Ashes history. The tail, faring well under the watch of Beau Webster with a combative 71, helped swell the total to a daunting 567.
And it was a laborious day for the English bowlers. Josh Tongue (3/97) and Brydon Carse (3/130) were the pick of the bowlers, but there may have been a cost for that success when captain Ben Stokes was forced from the field early in the morning session with a groin injury — an image which would surely send shivers down English spines.
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New Hero The English Response
Catching up with a 183-run deficit and getting to reach parity is no easy task, especially against an attack that included Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. The beginning was calamitous: Zak Crawley gone in the very first over, pinned in front for 1 by a searing delivery from Starc.
But what unfolded was a modern Test masterclass. Jake Bethell, the shining light of this series, fought back for the Aussies. Showing maturity which never belied his young age, Bethell brought up a fifty that drew applause from the Sydney crowd. With Ben Duckett (42) he started the first of two partnerships which chipped away almost half the deficit before lunch.
The second session witnessed the downfall of all-time great Joe Root. Almost inevitably, Joe Root added six in the second, trapped LBW by Boland for a swiftfire 6. Read It was also an unusual lapse from Root,who has otherwise been outstanding this series.
Standing Pat: The Harry Brook Influence
At 125/3, with lead yet to be paid back off, Harry Brook accompanied Bethell out to the wicket. The poster boy of England’s turbo-charging “Bazball” approach, Brook never shied away from his natural game. He raced to 20, which included a brilliant lofted drive over wide long-off against the spin of Travis Head just before Tea.
England were 174/3 at the close, just nine runs behind. The momentum has visibly shifted. With Australia still sitting pretty in the driver’s seat to win the Test if they can break this partnership quickly, England is now back from a potential innings defeat at the WACA to turn this into an actual contest.
Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test Live Score Updates, Day 2
Strategic Outlook – Not Out of the Woods Yet! Can England Force a Result?
The approach to be taken by both teams is clear as we head into the closing sessions of the SCG Test:
- For Australia: The target is the new ball. If Pat Cummins’ men can snap two quick wickets before the lead swells to 50, they will be eyeing a small target on Day 5.
- (For England: It’s all about survival.) Bethell and Brook, if they can get their lead up to 150+, make Australia risk having to bat last on a 5th day SCG pitch which is already offering plenty of assistance for the spinners.
The 2025-26 Ashes may be a done deal (Australia holds a 3-1 lead), but this Sydney Test is showing that the rivalry remains alive and kicking.
