Quick hits: Khawaja's fitting farewell, a final DRS drama and Marnus madness
SOURCE:ABC Australia|BY:Henry Hanson
The SCG celebrates a retiring hero and a rising star, tempers flair after another DRS debacle and Marnus mourns a horror run-out. Here are the quick hits from the final day of the 2025-26 Ashes.
The SCG celebrates a retiring hero and a rising star, tempers flare after another DRS debacle and Marnus mourns a horror run-out as Australia claims a 4-1 series win in Sydney.
Here are the quick hits from the final day of the 2025-26 Ashes.
1. Khawaja's perfect SCG bookends
Khawaja was given a hero's farewell in his final Test. (Getty Images: Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images)
After 88 Test matches and 15 years, Usman Khawaja entered the international arena for the last time in sparkling Sydney sunshine.
A healthy day five crowd rose as the retiring hero led the Australians out for the start of the day's play.
And not long after lunch, there was an even louder roar as he came to the crease for the final time in Test cricket, with Australia at 3-92 and requiring a further 68 runs for victory.
The England players formed a guard of honour for the veteran, before he received one final SCG ovation after being dismissed.
It was a lovely day of recognition and a fitting bookend for the batter, who began his Test career at this very ground, against this very opponent, on this very week in 2011.
The then 24-year-old Khawaja breathed fresh, much-needed life into what was a disastrous Ashes series for the Australians, with his fluent first-innings 39 providing a glimpse into a brighter future for Australian cricket.
Bethell received a standing ovation after being dismissed for 154 on day five. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley/CA/Cricket Australia)
Jacob Bethell began day five on 142 not out after his sparkling, maiden professional red-ball century had kept England just about in the hunt for an unlikely SCG triumph.
And the 22-year-old started the series' final day in a similarly dominant fashion, knocking off the eight runs required to reach 150 with ease.
But with England eight wickets down, it felt like the rookie needed to turn his already remarkable innings into a really remarkable one.
With the new ball taken, he made good use of DRS to overturn an LBW decision, although just three overs later, the Barbados-born batter was nicked off by Mitchell Starc for 154.
Once again, Sydney was on its feet, this time for one of the most stunning breakthrough innings the city had ever witnessed.
Applause echoed across the ground for the entirety of Bethell's journey from the middle.
3. Tempers flair after final DRS drama
Weatherald was handed a lucky break on day five. (Fox Cricket)
It was inevitable.
Much maligned throughout the summer, the DRS was once again at the centre of controversy on the final day of the series.
With Australia set 160 for victory, England's bowlers were all over openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald and were unlucky not to prise an early wicket.
First, England sent an LBW decision upstairs after the umpire had prematurely signalled leg byes. The replays showed a massive outside edge and the tourists lost a review.
Then, in the seventh over, England went up for caught behind with Weatherald flashing outside off against Brydon Carse. The on-field decision was not out, and England sent a second decision to the third umpire.
With snicko showing a slight murmur with the ball in the vicinity of the bat, England began celebrating as third umpire Kumar Dharmasena rocked and rolled the footage.
But not for the first time in the series, Stokes was livid as the technology went against his side.
He was engaged in an animated discussion with the umpire as Carse exchanged some heated words with the reprieved Weatherald.
It was all getting a bit testy out there, and belatedly, the umpires did make a correct decision, calling for an early drinks break.
Speaking on ABC Sport, former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie said he could understand the players' passion.
"Things do get heated in the heat of battle," Gillespie said.
"At the end of the day the players are just people, there's emotions and emotions do run over.
"As long as it doesn't get out of hand, let's not be too critical. They have to move on, it's done and dusted."
4. Jacks bowls the 'best ball of his life'
Jacks produced a moment of inspiration to dismiss Smith. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Will Jacks has had a tough old tour.
A batting all-rounder and white-ball specialist, Jacks was thrust into his first Test series since 2022 after the first match in Perth and asked to cosplay as a frontline spinner.
His numbers have been predictably poor, conceding 322 runs and picking up six wickets across the series.
"It's been a bizarre selection, no other way to put it," Gillespie said on ABC Radio.
But not long after lunch, he produced a moment of inspiration to remove a player widely regarded as the best since Bradman.
It was the perfect off break, pitching in the rough, turning viciously and clean bowling Steve Smith through the gate.
"Never mind his best ball of the series, that's the best ball of his life!" Gillespie said on commentary.
5. Run-out madness keeps things interesting
Even with Khawaja and Smith dismissed, Australia was well and truly in control of the game, but small chases are rarely straightforward.
Labuschagne was involved in an awful mix-up during the chase. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Marnus Labuschagne, who had blown hot and cold in the series, was finding the middle of bat with regularity before a breakdown in communication sent him back to the pavilion.
Labuschagne drove through the off side and immediately scampered off for a single, before non-striker Alex Carey sent him back with the Queenslander halfway down the track.
With the ball already flying from extra cover to the wicketkeeper, Labuschagne's despairing dive was in vain.
He was clearly out, but Labuschagne stayed doubled over in the middle for an age, mourning the brain fade.
Victory was less than 40 runs away, but you could almost hear the Australian nerves jangling in the middle, with the jittery Cameron Green coming close to being the second run-out batter of the innings in frankly hilarious circumstances.
But Carey and Green were able to get the job done, delivering Australia a 4-1 series victory midway through the fifth day of the final Test.