Updated January 8, 2026 \u2014 1.51pmfirst published at 9.14am<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Key postsHide key postsGo to latest<\/p>\n Pinned post from 9.24am<\/p>\n Poll: Who deserves player of the series?<\/p>\n Australia have already retained the Ashes but, as the fifth Test races towards its conclusion, all the chat is around which player has outperformed the rest over the course of the series.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still time to vote!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.51pm<\/p>\n WICKET: Labuschagne run out<\/p>\n I spoke too soon. The partnership will not last. All of a sudden the top half of Australia\u2019s order is gone and England sense an opportunity. Labuschagne drops to his knees; he knows how unfortunate this is. He\u2019d raced off for a single only for Carey to spy danger and turn around. Marnus is left in no man\u2019s land. Potts hot potatos the ball back near the stumps and Jamie Smith smashes them straight away.<\/p>\n Green back under the spotlight now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.45pm<\/p>\n WICKET: Khawaja dismissed<\/p>\n He drags Tongue onto his stumps and that\u2019s the end of the veteran\u2019s international Test career. It\u2019s slightly unlucky, and Khawaja will be disappointed. But he must be at least a little relieved to be finished, finally. After all the conjecture and back and forth, and external commentary on what he should do.<\/p>\n Thanks Uzzy #419 is emblazoned in white on the pitch, and he drops to his knees next to it to touch his head to the turf. Then his bat is in the air as he receives one final farewell.<\/p>\n Carey comes out and takes two runs from Tongue in what Australia will hope is a sturdy partnership that gets the job done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.45pm<\/p>\n Bethell drops Labuschagne<\/p>\n He goes in for a drive but ends up edging towards gully. It\u2019s got pace in the air but so does Bethell. He gets there and you think he has it, until Bethell can\u2019t hold on to it.<\/p>\n England have not been short on chances so far this innings. Not short at all. And they will wish Bethell had gotten rid of Marnus because he saunters into the next over and takes three fours and two twos off Jacks, making the (well-performing here) bowler the owner of the most expensive over this Test (16 runs).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.38pm<\/p>\n Uzzie off the mark with a boundary<\/p>\n It\u2019s a lovely sweep to fine leg, offset by a nervy moment four ball later when Stokes dives and is not a million miles away from catching the veteran out on four. Instead the ball slips through and he adds another two runs.<\/p>\n Australia 3-102 (Labuschagne 20, Khawaja 6) after 20 overs, need 58 runs to win<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.28pm<\/p>\n Khawaja has another shot at a fairytale ending<\/p>\n He makes his way out for his last Test innings (again). England\u2019s players and the umpires form a guard of honour. He blocks Jacks\u2019 final delivery of the over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.25pm<\/p>\n WICKET: Smith can\u2019t believe he\u2019s out<\/p>\n He\u2019s looking at the stumps that have just buckled behind him, and back up the crease to where Jacks has just flummoxed him with off-spin, then back again to the stumps as if he surely hasn\u2019t just been bowled. But he has, and that is his lot on 12 runs.<\/p>\n Guess who\u2019s coming now ..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.19pm<\/p>\n Well hi there Marnus!<\/p>\n A six if you don\u2019t mind. He shimmies forward and takes Jacks on the half-volley for a crisp shot over long.<\/p>\n Australia 2-83 (Labuschagne 15, Smith 4), Australia need 77 runs<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.12pm<\/p>\n Players are back out there for session two<\/p>\n Tongue is bowling to Smith.<\/p>\n
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