Summary

  • Fifth Test, day five, Sydney

  • Australia chase down 160 to win by five wickets and seal 4-1 series victory

  • Starc removes Bethell for 154 and last man Tongue for six as England dismissed for 342

  • Head, Weatherald, Smith, Khawaja - in his final Test knock - and Labuschagne all fall in slight wobble but Carey hits winning runs

  • Watch highlights on iPlayer from 17:00 GMT

  • Scroll below for clips and reaction

  • Thank you from all the BBC Sport cricket team for following our coverage

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Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham, Elizabeth Botcherby & Maisie Gallen

  1. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald are out in the middle for Australia, who need 160 to win.

    Brydon Carse will open the bowling for England.

    Injured captain Ben Stokes is on the field.

  2. Australia needed 130 to beat England at Headingley in the 1981 Ashes.

    They need 160 at the SCG...

    England batter Ian Botham plays a shot during the 1981 Ashes Test at HeadingleyGetty Images

  4. 'It will still be tricky'

    Mtichell Starc, speaking to the host broadcaster: "There's still some flat patches but still something in it. A day five wicket. Obviously with Jacob [Bethell] batting as well as he has through the second innings we knew we had to be a little bit patient and play the game with the non-batter at the other end. We had a job to do this morning and 160 to win, we'll take that.

    "We still know how good they are at bowling and the wicket is starting to play some tricks. It's probably a new-ball wicket with that harder seam and it will be the hardest time to bat. We saw once it gets a little bit softer it gets a little bit easier to bat, but it will still be tricky."

    On a possible farewell innings for Usman Khawaja: "It would awesome if he had to bat. A part of me would be happy if he didn't have to bat, another part is that it would be a fairytale if he hit the winning runs. If he could win a Test match for Australia he'd be as pleased as punch."

  5. Day five recap

    Here's a reminder of what's happened so far this morning.

    England resumed on 302-8, leading by 119 runs, and Jacob Bethell added another 26 runs alongside Matthew Potts before his special knock came to an end.

    He nicked through to Alex Carey off Mitchell Starc to depart for 154 (256), turning his maiden first-class ton into a daddy hundred.

    And it was Starc - who else? - who wrapped up England's innings, having Josh Tongue caught at extra cover for 6.

    England all out for 342. Australia need 160 runs to win.

  6. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    As much as this England team frustrates the life out of us, I think we can all remember many a time, in many a game, where a first innings deficit of 183 runs would result in something very different to setting 150+ to win. Yes, Australia will chase this with ease, and we'll lose by seven wickets, but it's still pleasing to see some fight.

    Ben in Plymouth.

    To lose the Ashes 4-1 is disappointing, hopefully the hard work starts now to prepare for the next series, also a word for Usman Khawaja a consummate professional and have a happy retirement.

    Adam

    Baz and Ben Stokes delivered what they promised, this is fascinating Test cricket, I'm too entertained to sleep, well done lads! And thank you for the great coverage through the good times and bad, and I hope the team isn't on a day rate.

    Matt, Bed

  7. Australia need 160 to win

    England are all out for 342, leading by 159 runs.

    Australia need 160 runs to win the fifth Test and complete a 4-1 series win.

  8. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Mitch Starc of Australia is congratulatedGetty Images

    Mitchell Starc has had a brilliant series - he is in the running for player of the series for sure.

    England need to go out and play as if there is still a chance for them.

  9. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Mitchell Starc has done it again and England are all out!

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    Tongue c Labuschagne b Starc 6 (Eng 342-10)

    Gone! It's another wicket for Mitchell Starc - his 31st of the series.

    Josh Tongue is the last man to fall, popping a catch to Marnus Labuschagne at extra cover.

  11. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Bondi BeachBBC Sport

    After going to days two and four of the Test, I'm doing a beach walk on my last day in Sydney. But if these two can put on another 20 or 30 I'll jump in a cab to the SCG.

    Joey

  12. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Matthew Potts is trying to protect Josh Tongue, but I have faith in him to hold his own.

  13. Eng 342-9

    Scott Boland bowls a maiden to Matthew Potts.

    Potts was desperate for a single off the final delivery but could only drop the ball a few feet in front of himself, with Boland bearing down on him to collect.

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    There is still a fair bit of time left in this game and England have done well to keep the score moving.

    Australia will not be sweating too much at the moment however.

  15. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Hello team. A huge thank you for brilliant coverage. My husband Graham had a total knee replacement on Nov 14th and its been tough! The only benefit of not sleeping at all for the last eight weeks is that we've hardly missed a ball of any of the Tests. Tea, toast and morphine at 3am was the norm for a few weeks. Now paracetamol has replaced the morphine so heading in the right direction. We've laughed, cried, and ranted with you all so thanks again each and every one of you!

    Joy & Graham Roberts, Chester

  16. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    Mitchell Starc has now taken 30 wickets in this Ashes along with the 156 runs he's scored with the bat. Starc is now only the sixth Australian in Ashes history to take 30+ wickets and score 150+ runs in a series....

    • George Giffen in 1894-95 - 475 runs, 34 wickets
    • Herbert Hordern in 1911-12 - 173 runs, 32 wickets
    • Dennis Lillee in 1981 - 153 runs, 39 wickets
    • Shane Warne in 2005 - 249 runs, 40 wickets
    • Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 - 165 runs, 37 wickets
    • Mitchell Starc in 2025-26 - 156 runs, 30 wickets

  17. Eng 342-9

    Josh Tongue gets in on the boundary fun, driving Mitchell Starc down the ground for four.

    It's the only scoring shot of the over but how long will it be before this partnership begins to annoy Australia?

  18. Eng 338-9

    Lead by 155 runs

    That's a lovely shot from Matthew Potts! He plants his front foot and guides Scott Boland in between square and mid-wicket for four.

    And he goes back-to-back, this time through cover!

    Josh Tongue had earlier got off the mark with a single.

    England's lead is over 150!

  19. Not out - Eng 330-9

    Daylight between bat and ball. A curious, curious review.

  20. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Steve Smith clearly wants this over and done with. This could be another one of his optimistic reviews.