A record-breaking crowd watches the Ashes reach its dramatic end
The 2025–26 Ashes concluded in unforgettable fashion at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia’s 4-1 series victory was witnessed by a crowd that rewrote history. Over the course of five gripping days, the SCG welcomed 211,032 fans, setting a new all-time attendance record for the ground and surpassing the long-standing mark of 195,253, set during the 1946–47 Ashes.
According to a report by IANS, the record was already broken before the first ball was bowled on the fifth day, with sell-outs across the first four days and thousands more entering on Day 5, drawn by a AU$30 (approx. US$20.1) charity ticket benefitting the McGrath Foundation. The historic turnout not only eclipsed a benchmark from the Bradman era but also capped off a summer of remarkable engagement from fans across Australia and beyond.
England fall short as Australia seal series win on final day
In front of this electric crowd, Australia chased down 160 on a challenging final-day surface to secure a five-wicket win and clinch the series. Earlier in the day, England resumed at 302/8, with Matthew Potts finding the boundary early and Jacob Bethell pushing on to a valiant 150. However, Mitchell Starc proved decisive yet again, taking the final two wickets and finishing the series with 31 scalps.
Australia’s chase was set up by a strong 62-run opening stand, but England applied pressure with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Josh Tongue and Will Jacks led the charge with key wickets, briefly opening the door to a potential upset. But a calm partnership between Cameron Green and Alex Carey, worth 40 runs, closed out the game — and the series — with Carey’s boundary sealing a memorable win.
The Test also marked a fitting farewell for Usman Khawaja, who walked away from international cricket with a win on home soil.
Stokes salutes fans after challenging tour
Despite England’s disappointment, Ben Stokes took time after the match to recognize the supporters who had backed the team throughout the series, particularly the Barmy Army, whose presence was impossible to miss in the Victor Trumper Stand.
“We’re so lucky and so thankful that wherever we go in the world we have the Barmy Army … who come around and watch us,” Stokes said at the post-series presentation.
He acknowledged the heartbreak of a 4-1 result but emphasized continued appreciation. “They’re going to be as disappointed as us about the way the series has gone, but that should never take away the gratitude,” he added.
A historic summer of crowds, even without the all-time record
While the overall summer attendance fell short of breaking the all-time season record of 946,750, largely due to shortened Tests in Perth and Melbourne, the final attendance mark stood at 859,580. The losses at those venues were estimated at over 210,000 combined, but other grounds made up the difference — notably Adelaide, which hosted the most attended Test outside Melbourne, and Brisbane’s Gabba, which recorded its second-highest Test turnout ever.
Still, the SCG’s record-breaking Ashes finale will remain the defining story of the Australian summer. It was a reminder that Test cricket, even in the era of franchise leagues, retains its power to draw fans in historic numbers — especially when one of the oldest rivalries in sport is at stake.
