5 incredible stats from Australia’s 4-1 Ashes triumph at home
As Australia retained the Ashes with a dominant 4-1 win over England at home, OTTplay has picked up five incredible stats from the series which you cannot miss as a cricket fan.
Last Updated: 01.38 PM, Jan 08, 2026
As the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) erupted in celebration on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the 4-1 series scoreline told only half the story. Australia’s dominance over England in the 2025–26 Ashes was not just a victory; it was a statistical demolition that exposed the limitations of "Bazball" on Australian soil. Despite missing senior pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the majority of the summer, Australia unearthed new heroes and watched veterans scale unprecedented heights. Here are the five incredible stats that defined this historic series.
1. Mitchell Starc’s 31-wicket masterclass
The "Compton-Miller Medal" for Player of the Series belonged to one man: Mitchell Starc. In the absence of his regular strike partners, Starc carried the attack, finishing with 31 wickets at an average of 19.93.
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2. Travis Head: The opening gamble that paid 629 runs
Promoted to open the batting only after a back injury to Usman Khawaja in Perth, Travis Head produced one of the greatest individual batting campaigns in Ashes history.
3. Seven Half-century stands in one innings
In the final Test at the SCG, Australia’s batting depth achieved something that had not been seen in the Ashes for 134 years.
4. Steve Smith chasing the "Don"
While Travis Head provided the fireworks, Steve Smith provided the history. Scoring his 37th Test century at the SCG, Smith officially moved into second place on the all-time Ashes run-scoring list.
5. Nathan Lyon’s ascent to greatness
Even in a series dominated by the quicks, "The GOAT" found a way to make history. During the Adelaide Test, Nathan Lyon surpassed Glenn McGrath to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Australian Test history.