Australia lost five wickets for 59 runs in their second innings but Alex Carey and Cameron Green combined for a 40-run stand to seal a five-wicket victory. England left the hosts 160 to get – not a terribly difficult task for the number one-rated Test team in the world at the moment. 

They appeared to be 62 for no loss before losing three quick wickets. On the last day of his 88-Test career, Usman Khawaja came to the crease with Australia at 92 for three just after lunch and still needing 68 runs for victory.

But Cameron and Green’s partnership saw the Aussies home by five wickets. The close friends shared a hug after Carey hit Will Jacks for the winning runs through the off side.

The winning Australian Ashes team. Photo: Facebook (Cricket Australia)

For a first-innings total of 163, Travis Head was named Player of the Match, but Player of the Series went to Mitchell Starc, who finished with 31 wickets and 156 runs over the five Tests.

After the match, Starc paid tribute to stand-in captain Steve Smith, who had to step in to replace an injured Pat Cummins.

“Okay, Pat wasn’t there, but we have someone who’s captained the team so much in the past, has a great cricket brain. It was business as usual.”

Captain 

“I think Steve’s captained phenomenally well through the series, was ahead of the game, ahead of England for a lot of it.

“And then, whether it be the different batters, different Trav opening, different bowling setups, we knew as a group that we had the guys that could fill different roles and be adaptable in different situations.”

Both teams will have a short break now before travelling to India and Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup that starts in less than two weeks.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg