The Ashes 2025/26 | Australia vs England | Fifth Test Preview and Predictions

After consecutive drubbings in the opening three Tests, England finally got going in the 2025/26 Ashes series, picking up their first win in an eventful Boxing Day Test that lasted a little over two days and saw the Melbourne pitch come under the scanner for being unsatisfactory, though it will mostly be remembered for Bazball finding some much-needed form. 

In the fifth and final Test, while Australia will look to wrap up a dominant series with a win in Sydney, England will look to salvage more, as a 2–3 series defeat will look much better on paper on their way home. For the fifth game, here we present our preview and predictions.

The Ashes 2025/26 | 5th Test | 05:00 IST, January 4–8, 2026

Steve Smith will be leading the hosts once again, with Pat Cummins having chosen not to worsen his back injury. After going down inside three days in Melbourne, Smith and Co will hope to put up a better show in Sydney to wrap up the series on a high.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald have been solid at the top for Australia, but the inconsistencies of Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Smith himself will be something the Australian camp will hope subside over the next five days.

Usman Khawaja has been much better in the middle order than at the top in this series. The 39-year-old has also announced that this will be the final game of his Test career, and he will want to go out on a high.

A slow Sydney surface might be just what the likes of Smith, Labuschagne, and Khawaja need to get some runs under their belts. Alex Carey has been brilliant not only with the gloves but also with the bat lower down the order. His runs, along with crucial contributions from Mitchell Starc, have been key to Australia’s batting resistance.

While Starc has been the standout bowler with 26 wickets in the four games, Scott Boland and Michael Neser have also stepped up whenever needed. With no Cummins in Sydney, Australia will hope Boland and Neser continue to ably support Starc. Spin should be a factor in Sydney, and while Australia are without Nathan Lyon, who is out injured, they’re likely to bring in Todd Murphy, who is set to play his first Test since 2023 as well as his first-ever home Test.

As for the visitors, with the Boxing Day Test win they ended a drought of more than a decade, picking up their first win in Australia since 2011. Ben Stokes and Co were on top in a chaotic game that saw the seamers dominate again. Josh Tongue stood out with his seven-wicket haul, with Travis Head’s 46 in the second innings ending up as the highest score on a Melbourne pitch that was later deemed “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council.

England’s batters struggled as well, but were just about able to fare better than their Australian counterparts. The top order of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root boasts plenty of experience, and the England management will expect better from them. Meanwhile, playing his first-ever Ashes game last time out, Jacob Bethell was probably the only English batter who looked at home, and his aggressive approach ensured England weren’t left playing catch-up in a tricky chase of 175.

The batting inconsistencies have not just been at the top of the order. The form of Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith has also been hot and cold, which means that there haven’t been many runs on offer from the lower order either.

While the batting has been something to forget for the visitors, their bowlers have been the ones who have kept them in the games, with Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue having been doing the heavy lifting. England will be without Jofra Archer for the final game, while Stokes will be needed to step up with the ball as well, with Will Jacks also set to play a crucial role in Sydney.

The Sydney strip has generally brought about runs while also assisting spinners, something that has been missing this series. Only a total of nine wickets have come from spin this time around, which is also the joint-lowest in a series.

While the series might be done and dusted, England’s win in Melbourne will give them a lot of confidence. However, on a track that should be slower than the ones we have seen thus far, Australia’s batting depth and experience give them the edge in this encounter.

Fantasy XI: Ben Duckett, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Joe Root, Usman Khawaja, Harry Brook, Alex Carey (wk), Ben Stokes (vc), Brydon Carse, Mitchell Starc, Josh Tongue

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Winners Prediction: Australia