Momentum is one of the biggest factors in sport, especially in cricket. Test Cricket lasts up to five days and the matches invariably ebb and flow in different directions throughout the day’s 90 overs. Identifying the momentum shifting moments where matches are won or lost is extremely important, and performing well under pressure with a bat, ball, or even in the outfield is how games are won.
This particular match was dubbed as England’s best chance to beat Australia on their home turf since 2011. A veteran side riddled with injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazelwood made everyone assume that the Ashes Trophy would be England’s for the taking. And after falling short in the World Test Championship Final to the Proteas, this promised to be England’s day in the sun.
In reality, Australia retained the 2025/2026 Ashes Trophy, comfortably winning the series 4-1. Famously, the tournament was over in the span of 11 days after victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Player of the series Mitchell Starc grabbed an incredible 31 wickets in the series. Starc might be the best bowler of our generation, especially in the post-Dale Steyn era. His ability to take control of a match and run through a team, collecting wickets in bunches, is remarkable.
It is not just the volume of his wickets, but the value of them too. Starc tends to make the initial breakthrough in his first over or, at the very least, his first spell. The 35-year-old veteran also added key runs at the end of the innings to save Australia and strengthen their grip on the match.
In the absence of Cummins, Scott Boland stepped up to support Starc. He was accurate, economical, and failed to give anything away on his way to 20 wickets.
On the other hand, England’s bowlers toiled hard but lacked the accuracy and patience displayed by Boland and Starc.
Travis Head piled on the runs for Australia, scoring a total of 629 throughout the series. Head made three match-winning hundreds of 123, 170, and 163. He delighted the Australian nation with his bravery, invention, and relatability on the field. One hour of scintillating “Travball” and the game could be gone just like that.
England’s 22-year-old Jacob Bethell scored 154 runs in the final test to provide some light at the end of the tunnel for the side. Moving forward, this should be the blueprint for every English batsman not named Joe Root. He played a faultless innings anchored in solid technique and great temperament. Bethell held his nerve in the 90s to reach his first-ever first-class century in the Ashes of all places. “A star is born here at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground),” described former England Captain Michael Vaughan.
The current English Captain Ben Stokes is, unsurprisingly, under the spotlight. The inspirational all-rounder led by example with the ball as one of England’s best bowlers, but ultimately fell short with the bat.
Fellow England legend Joe Root finally scored a century in Australia. With scores of 138 and 160, Root showcased exactly why he is chasing down Sachin Tendulkar in the most all-time runs leaderboard.
However, Australia showed a real ability to seize the moment. They won this series through patience, skill, and experience. England, on the other hand, managed to press the self-destruct button and lose in several key moments of the series. Once again, it was “checkmate” to Australia.
Visual: Danielle Oosthuizen
