Australia turned their backyard into an unbreachable fortress, crushing England 4–1 to retain the Ashes and keep the iconic urn firmly at home. Thriving in familiar conditions, the hosts outplayed their old rivals in every department, handing England yet another painful tour Down Under.
Are Australia’s veterans such as Steve Smith nearing the end of a golden era?
As nearly two months of high-octane red-ball drama came to an end, Australia’s triumph stood out not just for the margin of victory, but for how it was achieved. At a time when most teams are investing heavily in youth, Australia leaned on experience and their battle-hardened veterans repaid that faith in emphatic fashion.
From Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to Michael Neser and Steve Smith, the old guard rolled back the years with performances that defined the series. Yet, with the next Ashes scheduled for 2027 in England, questions around age and longevity have begun to surface. Smith himself added fuel to the speculation when he spoke candidly about his future.
“I’m sure everyone’s excited to go there and try and win the Ashes. It’s something I certainly haven’t done in my career and something I’d like to tick off, whether I get there or not is a different question,” Smith told Fox Cricket, leaving the door open to a potential early exit.
Australia’s dominance wasn’t limited to runs and wickets alone. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey emerged as a quiet game-changer throughout the series, particularly with his audacious work standing up to fast bowlers clocking speeds close to 140 kmph. Smith was full of praise for Carey’s impact behind the stumps and with the bat.
“He was unbelievable with both bat and gloves. The way he went up to the stumps to the quick, it’s not easy. He works incredibly hard on it, and against this opposition, it was a real weapon. The bowlers trusted him, and everything just clicked,” Smith said.
If Carey’s glovework provided control, Mitchell Starc supplied the firepower. The left-arm pacer tore through England’s batting line-up time and again, finishing the series with a staggering 31 wickets. Smith had no hesitation in calling Starc’s contribution match-defining.
“Mitchell Starc was sensational, supported brilliantly by everyone who played,” he remarked.
Australia’s achievement becomes even more remarkable given the injury setbacks they endured. Josh Hazlewood missed the entire series, Pat Cummins featured in just one Test, and Nathan Lyon played only twice. Yet, despite the disruptions, Australia adapted seamlessly and once again asserted their dominance over their fiercest rivals.
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