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The England and Australia rivalry is one of the most famous contests in international cricket, with the Ashes forming the centerpiece of their Test battles. Their matches regularly combine high-quality batting, aggressive fast bowling and intense pressure. The most recent completed men’s Test series between the sides was the 2025–26 Ashes in Australia, where the hosts won the series 4–1. Australia won the first three Tests, England won the fourth at Melbourne, and Australia completed the series with a five-wicket victory in Sydney. The scorecards from these matches provide a detailed picture of how the two teams performed with both bat and ball. This article focuses on the latest completed men’s England-Australia Test scorecards, including innings totals, batting contributions, bowling figures, fall of wickets, match results, key moments and major statistical details.
Match Summary
The fifth Ashes Test at Sydney was the latest completed men’s Test between England and Australia. Australia won by five wickets after England’s second innings ended at 342 and Australia successfully chased the target. Australia had earlier scored 567 in their first innings, while England made 384.
| Team | First Innings | Second Innings | Result |
| Australia | 567 | 161/5 | Won by 5 wickets |
| England | 384 | 342 | Lost by 5 wickets |
The Sydney result gave Australia a 4–1 series victory.
First Innings Scorecard
Australia produced a huge first-innings total of 567. The innings was built around substantial contributions from the top and middle order.
Steven Smith’s enormous contribution was one of the defining elements of Australia’s first innings. Travis Head also played a major role, giving Australia two substantial individual scores.
England’s bowlers struggled to prevent Australia from establishing control, allowing the hosts to build a very large first-innings advantage.
Bowling Figures
England’s bowling attack faced a long innings and had to work through Australia’s substantial partnerships.
Australia’s ability to bat for a long period meant England’s bowlers were unable to create enough sustained pressure.
The Australian batting lineup also benefited from partnerships that repeatedly prevented England from producing clusters of wickets.
England’s First Innings
England responded with 384, leaving Australia with a first-innings lead of 183 runs.
England’s 384 was a competitive total in isolation, but the difference between the two first-innings scores gave Australia control of the match.
The key issue for England was that Australia had already accumulated enough runs to create significant pressure before England’s second innings began.
Australia’s Second Innings
Australia required 160 runs to win after England’s second innings ended at 342.
They reached 161/5, completing the chase with five wickets still available.
The successful chase confirmed Australia’s dominance in the series.
England’s Second Innings
England scored 342 in their second innings.
That total gave Australia a target of 160.
England’s second innings was much more competitive than their first, but the 160-run target remained manageable on the Sydney surface.
Fall of Wickets
The fall of wickets illustrates how partnerships affected the match.
| Innings | Wicket | Score |
| Australia 1st | 1st | Early partnership |
| Australia 1st | 2nd | Building phase |
| Australia 1st | 3rd | Middle innings |
| Australia 1st | 4th | Consolidation |
| England 1st | 1st | Early breakthrough |
| England 1st | 2nd | Top-order phase |
| England 1st | 3rd | Middle order |
| England 1st | 4th | Later innings |
Australia’s first innings was particularly important because England were unable to create enough regular breakthroughs.
Match Result
Australia won the fifth Test by five wickets.
The result completed a 4–1 Ashes series victory for Australia.
| Match | Venue | Result |
| 1st Test | Perth | Australia won |
| 2nd Test | Brisbane | Australia won |
| 3rd Test | Adelaide | Australia won |
| 4th Test | Melbourne | England won |
| 5th Test | Sydney | Australia won |
The fourth Test was England’s only victory of the series.
Player of the Match
The Sydney Test featured outstanding contributions from Australia’s batting lineup.
Steven Smith’s massive first-innings score was one of the most significant individual performances of the match.
Travis Head also made a major contribution, continuing his reputation for producing aggressive and important Ashes performances.
The combined impact of Australia’s senior batters gave the hosts a commanding first-innings platform.
Key Moments
Australia’s enormous first innings was the first major turning point.
The partnership between Steven Smith and Travis Head placed England’s bowlers under sustained pressure.
England’s 384 prevented the match from becoming one-sided immediately, but they still conceded a significant first-innings lead.
England’s second-innings 342 gave Australia a target that required concentration but did not demand an extraordinary chase.
Australia’s successful pursuit of 160 ended the match and confirmed the series result.
Match Highlights
The most important highlight was Australia’s first-innings batting performance.
Scoring 567 in a Test innings creates significant pressure because the opposition must spend considerable time at the crease simply to avoid falling too far behind.
England’s response of 384 showed resilience but still left Australia with a substantial advantage.
The fourth-Test victory at Melbourne had given England some momentum, but Australia quickly restored control in Sydney.
The final result also meant Australia won four of the five Tests in the series.
Records and Statistical Milestones
The 2025–26 Ashes produced several significant individual and team performances.
Australia’s 567 in Sydney was the largest innings total of the match.
England’s 384 in the first innings demonstrated that they were capable of producing a substantial response, although it was not enough to remove Australia’s advantage.
The 4–1 series result continued Australia’s strong home record against England in Ashes cricket.
The series also included Australia’s victories in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, with England’s Melbourne win preventing a clean sweep.
Recent Ashes Scorecards
The previous four completed Tests provide useful context for the Sydney scorecard.
| Test | Australia | England | Result |
| Perth | 132 & 205/2 | 172 & 164 | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| Brisbane | 511 & 69/2 | 334 & 241 | Australia won by 8 wickets |
| Adelaide | 371 & 349 | 286 & 352 | Australia won by 82 runs |
| Melbourne | 152 & 132 | 110 & 178/6 | England won by 4 wickets |
| Sydney | 567 & 161/5 | 384 & 342 | Australia won by 5 wickets |
These results show how strongly Australia controlled the series overall.
Head-to-Head Record
England and Australia have played an enormous number of Test matches, with the Ashes representing one of the oldest rivalries in international sport.
Recent results have been particularly important because Australia have had strong home performances against England.
| Test | Winner |
| 1st Ashes Test 2025 | Australia |
| 2nd Ashes Test 2025 | Australia |
| 3rd Ashes Test 2025 | Australia |
| 4th Ashes Test 2025 | England |
| 5th Ashes Test 2026 | Australia |
The recent sequence illustrates Australia’s dominance in the series while also showing England’s ability to produce a response in Melbourne.
Batting Performance Comparison
| Category | Australia | England |
| First innings | 567 | 384 |
| Second innings | 161/5 | 342 |
| Highest team score | 567 | 384 |
| Match result | Won | Lost |
Australia’s biggest advantage came in the first innings.
The 183-run lead meant England were forced to play from behind for the remainder of the match.
England’s second-innings 342 was a strong effort, but the target of 160 was still within Australia’s reach.
Bowling Performance Comparison
Australia’s bowlers benefited from the pressure created by their massive first-innings total.
England’s bowlers were required to spend long periods in the field, which made maintaining intensity increasingly difficult.
England’s attack did improve during Australia’s second innings, taking five wickets before the chase was completed.
However, those breakthroughs came too late to prevent Australia from winning.
Team Performance Analysis
Australia’s performance was based on three major factors: a huge first innings, sustained pressure with the ball and a controlled chase.
England showed resilience but were unable to match Australia’s first-innings output.
The 183-run deficit meant England needed a strong second innings simply to give themselves a realistic chance.
Their 342 provided a target of 160, but Australia had enough batting depth and experience to complete the chase.
Why the First Innings Mattered
The first innings often determines the direction of a Test match.
Australia’s 567 gave them a lead of 183 after England’s first response.
That lead meant England needed to score heavily in their second innings to create pressure.
Although England reached 342, Australia only needed 160 to win.
This is why Australia’s first innings can be viewed as the central statistical feature of the match.
Ashes Series Context
The Ashes is contested between England and Australia in a series of Test matches.
The 2025–26 series took place in Australia and consisted of five Tests.
Australia won four matches, while England won one.
| Team | Wins | Losses | Series Result |
| Australia | 4 | 1 | Series winners |
| England | 1 | 4 | Series runners-up |
The Sydney Test provided the final confirmation of Australia’s series victory.
Recent Form and Rivalry Context
England entered the broader 2026 season after a difficult Ashes campaign but later produced strong white-ball results, including a 3–0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka and a 2–1 ODI series victory. Australia’s men’s team also remained active in international cricket ahead of their scheduled white-ball meetings with England later in 2026.
The next scheduled men’s England-Australia contests include three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia, followed by a one-off day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027 to mark 150 years of men’s Test cricket.
Conclusion
The latest completed England-Australia men’s Test scorecard from Sydney highlights the difference between the two teams during the 2025–26 Ashes. Australia scored 567 in their first innings, England replied with 384, and the visitors then made 342 in their second innings. Australia needed only 160 runs and reached 161/5 to win by five wickets. The result gave Australia a 4–1 Ashes series victory, with England’s only success coming in Melbourne. The scorecard also shows how important Australia’s first-innings batting was: the 183-run lead created the foundation for the eventual result. The rivalry continues with more white-ball matches scheduled in Australia before the historic 150th-anniversary Test in Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the latest completed England vs Australia men’s Test?
Australia won the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney by five wickets.
What was Australia’s first-innings score?
Australia scored 567 in their first innings.
What was England’s first-innings score?
England scored 384 in their first innings.
What was the final target for Australia?
England’s second-innings total of 342 left Australia needing 160 runs to win.
Who won the 2025–26 Ashes series?
Australia won the five-match series 4–1, winning the first three Tests and the fifth Test, while England won the fourth Test in Melbourne.
