Australia retains Ashes with 4-1 series victory

Australia claimed a 4-1 Ashes series win following their five-wicket win in the fifth Test at the SCG. Set 160 to win, a swift 62-run opening stand laid the foundation for Australia before a steady 40-run stand between Alex Carey and Cameron Green got them over the line despite a brief stutter on an up-and-down fifth day pitch. Matthew Potts struck a boundary off the very first delivery of the day to set the tone for England who resumed on 302/8. The visitors made steady progress, with Jacob Bethell reaching 150 in the process. The first hour also saw a flurry of DRS reviews, two unsuccessful ones from Australia and a successful one from Bethell who had an LBW call overturned against Scott Boland. Mitchell Starc would go on to claim both wickets to fall - first nicking off Bethell and then having Josh Tongue caught at mid-off - taking his series tally to an impressive 31. Set 160 to win, Travis Head got Australia off to another flying start while England burned a review in the very first over appealing for LBW. England were further aggrieved in the seventh over when third umpire Kumar Dharmasena deemed there was insufficient evidence to overturn a caught-behind appeal against Jake Weatherlald despite a slight murmur on Snicko. Australia's openers continued to score at a high tempo but England fought back with Tongue claiming the wickets of both openers before Lunch. Despite Australia requiring just 87 to win after the break, the conditions meant that England continued to create chances to keep themselves interested. Will Jacks found sharp turn to bowl Steve Smith shortly after lunch, before Jacob Bethell put down a tough chance at gully off Marnus Labuschagne. Usman Khawaja's final Test innings was brief, bowled after chopping on, and when Labuschagne was run out in the following over, England began to sense the possibility of an unlikely comeback. Cameron Green was nearly run-out twice off the same delivery as the Australians continued to look unsettled at the crease, further fuelling England's hopes. But with the runs required dwindling steadily, Australia's win was sealed when Alex Carey stroked a drive for four in the 32nd over.