Ashes 2025-26: Australia Win 4-1 — Mitchell Starc 31 Wickets, Head 629 Runs, England Win at MCG

Australia retained the Ashes with a 4-1 series win against England across five Tests played from November 21, 2025 to January 8, 2026 — a series remembered principally for Mitchell Starc's extraordinary bowling performance of 31 wickets at 19.93, which earned him the Compton-Miller Medal as Player of the Series and established him as the most dominant Ashes bowler in over a decade. Starc's 31 wickets were the most by an Australia bowler in an Ashes series since Mitchell Johnson took 37 wickets in the 2013-14 Ashes — making Starc the first Australia bowler to take 30 wickets in an Ashes series in 12 years. His career-best Test figures of 7/58 came in the Perth Test on the first morning, setting the tone for the series immediately. Australia's batting was led by Travis Head, whose 629 runs across the series included a commanding 163 in Sydney — Head performing at his best across multiple Tests and emerging as England's most difficult opponent with the bat. England's batting was led by Joe Root (400 runs) and a memorable 154 from Jacob Bethell in Sydney — where England fought hard but ultimately could not overcome the deficit established by the first three Tests. England won the 4th Test in Melbourne by 4 wickets — their first Test win in Australia since 2010-11, ending an 18-match winless run — before Australia confirmed the 4-1 result in Sydney.

Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide: Australia Win First Three Tests to Retain

The first three Tests of the 2025-26 Ashes produced three decisive Australia wins that settled the series before Christmas. In Perth (November 21-22), Australia won by 8 wickets — England were dismissed for 172 and 164, with Starc's 7/58 in the first innings being the defining bowling performance. The Perth Test lasted fewer than three days and was emphatic — England's batting unable to cope with Starc's pace and movement on a lively Perth surface. In Brisbane (December 4-7), Australia again won by 8 wickets — England scored 334 and 241 while Australia made 511 in reply and then chased the small target comfortably. The Brisbane win confirmed Australia's dominance and Starc had taken 18 wickets in just two Tests. In Adelaide (December 17-21), Australia won by 82 runs in the final session to retain the Ashes — Australia made 371 and 349 while England replied with 286 and 352, the fourth innings coming agonisingly close for England but Australia's bowling delivering the final wickets for the retention. The Adelaide win formally retained the Ashes for Australia after just three Tests — England would have needed to win all remaining matches to reclaim the urn, which their MCG performance showed they were capable of threatening but could not sustain across the full series.

Melbourne Win, Sydney Loss: England's Consolation and Final Act

England won the 4th Test in Melbourne (December 26-27) by 4 wickets — their first Test win in Australia since January 2011, ending a run of 18 consecutive Tests in Australia without a win. Australia scored 152 and 132, England replied with 110 and then chased 178 with 6 wickets remaining — a low-scoring thriller that delivered the result England had been unable to achieve across the previous 14 years and numerous Ashes tours. The MCG win was celebrated as a significant milestone for England's cricket, even in a series already decided against them. The 5th Test in Sydney (January 4-8, 2026) ended the series with another Australia win — by 5 wickets. Australia scored 567 with Travis Head making 163 and Steve Smith 138 in their first innings. England replied with 384 (Root 160) and 342 (Bethell 154), two substantial batting performances that set Australia 162 to win. Australia reached 161/5 with Carey and Green completing the chase. The 5th Test series 4-1 result confirmed Australia as the world's most powerful home Test team and Starc as the defining bowler of the series — only eight previous players in Test history had taken 30 wickets and scored two half-centuries in the same series, and Starc's 31 wickets placed him in distinguished company.