The fifth Australia vs England Ashes 2025 Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting Sunday, 4 January 2026, from 5:00 AM IST.
Australia leads the series 3-1. Steve Smith will captain the hosts while Pat Cummins is rested. Usman Khawaja will play his final Test before retiring, having scored 6,206 runs in 87 Tests.
England have included Shoaib Bashir and Matthew Potts in their XI, with Gus Atkinson missing due to a hamstring injury. Bashir has played 19 Tests since his debut in 2024, taking 68 wickets.
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and can be streamed on the JioHotstar app or website.
Australia vs England Ashes 2025: Playing XIs
Australia Cricket Team
Australia announced their 15-member squad for the fifth and final Australia vs England Ashes 2025 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting 4 January 2026. Steve Smith will captain the team in Pat Cummins’ absence, as the fast bowler is being rested to manage his workload ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Usman Khawaja has retained his place despite a disrupted series. The 39-year-old has scored 153 runs in three matches at an average of 30.60, including a half-century in Adelaide, and will play in the middle order alongside Travis Head and Jack Weatherald.
Australia’s squad for the fifth Test: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster.
The team aims to bounce back after a four-wicket loss to England in the fourth Test at Melbourne.
Australia vs England Ashes 2025: Playing XIs
England Cricket Team
England named their 12-player squad for the fifth Australia vs England Ashes 2025 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting 4 January 2026. Spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts are included, while Gus Atkinson misses out with a hamstring injury. England are already 3-1 down in the series.
Matthew Potts, 27, has taken 36 wickets in 10 Tests and could open the bowling at the SCG, allowing Brydon Carse to return to first-change duties. Shoaib Bashir, 22, has been England’s first-choice spinner over the last 18 months but has struggled on this tour. He may play if conditions favor spin.
England’s squad for the fifth Test: Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), and Josh Tongue.
Opener Zak Crawley praised Potts as “lion-hearted” and expressed excitement about playing in Sydney, where he has fond memories from past performances and grade cricket seasons. Crawley also looks forward to a recall to India’s ODI squad against Sri Lanka shortly after the Test series.
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