Fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England begins at Sydney Cricket Ground
The fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England is set to begin at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 3 January 2026, with day one play starting at 10:30 local time (11:30 GMT). The toss is scheduled for 10:00 local time. Team selections remain uncertain, with Shoaib Bashir's place pending for England, while Australia may bring in Beau Webster as a potential replacement for Cameron Green.
Australia enters the match with three underperformers in their top seven batsmen: Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green. England aim to secure pride, gain World Championship points, and boost morale. Australia, meanwhile, look to rebound from their defeat in Melbourne and to give Usman Khawaja a fitting farewell on home soil.
England left home on 10 October for an extended warm-up period that included two white-ball games against New Zealand. So far, the Ashes series has spanned 13 days. The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground, managed by Adam Lewis, is expected to last the full five days, contrasting with the seamer-friendly wickets seen earlier in Perth and Melbourne.
Weather forecasts predict a hot and dry start before cooler, damper conditions with showers and a possible storm later in the match.
Historically, the series has rarely finished with a 3-2 result. Australia last won 3-2 in 1936-37, while England's last 3-2 victory came in 1997.
