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Australia once again demonstrated its ability to balance dignity and dominance. The opening day of the fifth Test was marked by a moving tribute to the victims and first responders of the Bondi attack, while day three saw the Sydney Cricket Ground awash in pink as supporters rallied behind the McGrath Foundation. Both gestures were fitting and meaningful.
Any generosity ended once play began. Over the course of three sessions, Australia’s batters completely wore down England’s attack, silencing doubts about their hunger after retaining the Ashes, especially in the aftermath of the chaos in Melbourne. By stumps, England’s players departed exhausted and overwhelmed, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 129 from 205 balls — his 37th Test century — following Travis Head’s explosive 163 off 166 deliveries. Australia closed on 518 for seven after 124 overs, holding a daunting 134-run lead.
England’s supporters sang relentlessly in an effort to lift their side, but Sydney has become familiar territory for such punishment. The SCG has repeatedly been the scene of Australian run-fests, including 416 for eight declared in 2022 and a towering 649 for seven declared in 2019.
Concerns over the pitch proved unfounded. Day three offered ideal batting conditions, compounded by an England bowling attack that struggled to apply pressure. No bowler lacked effort, yet the damage was severe — particularly for Matthew Potts, who conceded 141 runs from 25 overs and was dispatched over the boundary by a towering pull shot from Head.
England’s woes were worsened by more dropped catches — their tally for the series hovering around 17 — and by Stokes exhausting his remaining reviews in an unsuccessful attempt to dismiss nightwatchman Michael Neser. Each rejected appeal that followed was met with loud mockery from the crowd.
Head resumed in destructive fashion, quickly adding nine runs to reach his third century of the series. He was eventually dismissed after lunch by Jacob Bethell with the score at 288 for four, bringing his Ashes total to 600 runs. Remarkably, his role as an opener began only due to Usman Khawaja’s back issue in Perth.
Head was also aided by two missed chances from Will Jacks, the first on 121 proving especially costly. Despite appearing well-positioned at deep midwicket, Jacks lost sight of the ball at the crucial moment, fumbling the catch.
Yet this was ultimately Steve Smith’s day. Eccentric and animated, he gestured constantly, ducked awkwardly under short balls, and ended up with grass-stained clothing — all hallmarks of a player in full command. After surviving an early chance on 12, Smith built his innings patiently, moving past Jack Hobbs’ Ashes run tally when he reached 83, leaving only Don Bradman ahead of him.
Polite applause greeted that landmark, but the crowd erupted later in the afternoon when Smith nudged three runs to reach his 13th Ashes century, placing himself once again between Hobbs and Bradman on the all-time list.
England’s brief opportunity came with the second new ball when Australia were still trailing by 60 runs at 324 for four. While Khawaja fell to a pinpoint yorker and Alex Carey was dismissed soon after, Smith found reliable support from Cameron Green and Beau Webster, who carried Australia through to stumps.
After losing five wickets cheaply to the new ball the previous day, England were forced to confront the same deficiencies once more, as a difficult tour edged closer to a bleak conclusion.
