Australia clinched the final Ashes Test against England Thursday by five wickets to complete a dominant 4-1 victory after a gruelling series, sending the retiring Usman Khawaja out on a high.
The nervy hosts saw wickets tumble as they chased their 160 target, which they reached after lunch on day five with Cameron Green not out 22 and Alex Carey on 16.
"That's Ashes cricket. Everyone got tense," said Carey who hit the winning runs.
"Usman is going to be missed. A great career and a great way to finish."
Australia lost openers Travis Head (29) and Jake Weatherald (34), along with captain Steve Smith (12) and Khawaja who made six in his final knock before retirement.
"It means a lot. So much has gone into it. The only thing I wanted was a win, as much as I wanted to hit the winning runs," said Khawaja, who was almost in tears as he walked off to a standing ovation after being bowled by Josh Tongue.
"The whole Test match I found it hard to control my emotions," Khawaja added after his 88th and final appearance on the Test stage.
"I'm grateful I've had the career I've had. I have full gratitude," he said, adding that Australia were relieved to have got over the winning line.
"It definitely got a bit too tight. You never count your chickens. We got the job done though."
Marnus Labuschagne, dropped on 20, compiled 37 before needlessly running himself out to give Ben Stokes's men a flicker of hope as they reduced Australia to 121-5.
But victory was never seriously in doubt after England were dismissed for 342 on the back of Jacob Bethell's stylish 154.
- England horror show -
Defeat ended a long tour for the visitors that quickly turned into a horror show when they lost the opening two Tests in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets and the third at Adelaide by 82 runs.
Stokes's side had arrived confident they could win their first series in Australia since 2010-11 amid taunts about the hosts having their worst side in 15 years.
Facing heavy criticism over their preparations, discipline and ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style of cricket, they rallied to pull off a stunning four-wicket comeback win in the fourth Test in Melbourne.
It was their first victory in 18 Tests on Australian soil and restored some pride, but another loss in Sydney, albeit close, will see them face a tough inquisition on their return home with coach Brendon McCullum's job on the line.
Australia achieved their success despite being without pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood for the series and Pat Cummins for all but one Test, while veteran spin king Nathan Lyon played a limited role.
Nearly 860,000 fans watched the series with a record 211,032 through the turnstiles in Sydney.
- Tempers flare -
Tempers flared earlier when Weatherald survived a review for caught behind on 16 despite the controversial Snicko technology, which has been unreliable all series, appearing to indicate a faint murmur.
An angry Carse had to be pulled away from complaining to the on-field umpire by Stokes and the bowler exchanged heated words with Weatherald.
England finally got their reward when Head swiped Tongue to Carse at midwicket and Weatherland top-edged the same bowler to Matthew Potts.
Smith was bamboozled by a turning ball by spinner Will Jacks and Khawaja, after being given a guard of honour by England when he walked out for the final time, played on.
England resumed on 302-8 with a 119-run advantage and added 40.
Precocious number three Bethell, trumpeted as the future of English cricket, padded up on 142 with Potts yet to score.
He reached 150 before edging Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Carey to end a breakthrough innings, with his marathon 265-ball stay including 15 fours.
Tongue was the last man out for six, again to Starc, with Potts unbeaten on 18.
It was Starc's 31st wicket of the series, more than any other bowler.
Australia were all out for 567 in their first innings on Wednesday on the back of centuries from Head and Smith in reply to the tourists' 384, built on Joe Root's 160.
England board launches review
The England and Wales Cricket Board said it had launched an immediate and "thorough" review following the tourists' defeat in the fifth and final Ashes Test on Thursday.
England's preparations, coaching and off-field behaviour all came under the microscope during a demoralising series in Australia which they lost 4-1.
As soon as the series was over, ECB chief executive Richard Gould released a statement calling the team's failure to regain the Ashes "deeply disappointing".
Gould said there were "moments of strong performance and resilience", notably victory in the fourth Test in Melbourne, which saved England from a humiliating series whitewash.
But he said: "We were not consistent enough across all conditions and phases of the contest and Australia ultimately deserved to retain the Ashes.
"We will take many lessons from this tour and are determined to improve quickly. Our focus is on regaining the Ashes in 2027.
"A thorough review of the campaign is already under way.
"This will cover tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require."
While captain Ben Stokes appears safe from the axe, the roles of head of cricket Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum are set to come under the microscope.
British media, including the BBC, have reported that Key and McCullum are likely to survive to show they can make improvements to the England set-up.
"We will implement the necessary changes over the coming months," Gould added.
England's next Test assignment is not until June, at home to New Zealand.
Coming up fast is the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month when McCullum will expect to be in charge of the squad, which will be captained by Harry Brook.
Brook 'deeply sorry' for nightclub fracas
England's white-ball captain Harry Brook issued an apology on Thursday saying he was "deeply sorry" for an altercation at a New Zealand nightclub ahead of the Ashes.
Brook's statement came just after England's sorry Ashes concluded in Sydney, with defeat in the fifth Test giving Australia a dominant 4-1 series victory.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Brook, the limited-overs skipper and vice-captain of the Test side in Australia, was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on October 31.
England lost to hosts New Zealand the next day in the third ODI in Wellington with Brook scoring six.
The 26-year-old Brook was fined £30,000 ($40,000) after reporting the incident to team management and was given a final warning about his behaviour, the newspaper said.
"I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team," he said in a statement.
"Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, coaches and supporters."
He added: "I am determined to learn from this mistake and to rebuild trust through my future actions, both on and off the field. I apologise unreservedly and will work hard to ensure this does not happen again."
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an immediate review into the Ashes defeat, with off-field behaviour one of its priorities following a team drinking session during the series.
Stokes admits 'wrongs to put right'
England captain Ben Stokes said Thursday there were a lot of "wrongs to put right" after a crushing 4-1 Ashes series defeat to Australia.
England arrived for their long tour in November confident of a first series win in Australia since 2010-11.
But they quickly imploded, despite facing a depleted attack missing key quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
A two-day defeat in Perth by eight wickets and another by the same margin at the pink-ball clash in Brisbane left them reeling and in the firing line at home.
An 82-run loss in Adelaide meant the Ashes were over within three Tests, with England's ultra-aggressive "Bazball" style ruthlessly exposed by the Australian conditions.
Stokes, who was a standout for England and intends to carry on as captain, acknowledged they were beaten by the better side.
"Australia is a great team, they play incredible cricket, they have some outstanding bowlers so we have to give them a lot of credit," he said after losing the fifth and final Test in Sydney by five wickets.
England at least won the fourth Test in Melbourne to avoid a whitewash.
"We could have played much better than what we did," Stokes added.
"The time for reflection is not right now. We've got a long time away to reflect on it. Come June when we next play (Tests), hopefully we can put the wrongs right."
Despite the bitter series defeat there were some bright lights for England, who lost fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson to injury at various points.
Seamer Josh Tongue came in and was admirable while 22-year-old Jacob Bethell produced a magnificent 154 in Sydney after replacing the out-of-form Ollie Pope.
"Incredible for Beth to get his opportunity in the last game of the series," said Stokes.
"To come out in the fifth game of the series and the way he batted was a terrific effort.
"Josh also put in his best and bowled really well so we have good talents coming through."
England will face an inquisition when they get home with coach Brendon McCullum's job in the spotlight.
Stokes said he had no thoughts of relinquishing the captaincy, replying "absolutely" when asked if he was keen to carry on.
"I have been in this role for four years now and it has been a consistent team," he told the BBC.
"I have a group of men that I have helped to find levels of ability to unlock. We need to put more pressure on everyone's shoulders."
Proud Smith says Australia 'stood up'
Australia skipper Steve Smith said Thursday he will have a drink with Ben Stokes and reflect on a "fun" Ashes series, while praising his team for adapting to all scenarios in winning the five-Test showdown.
The hosts completed a five-wicket win at the Sydney Cricket Ground after lunch on day five for a thumping 4-1 series victory, retaining the famous urn for at least another 18 months.
Touted to be a close-fought contest, the Ashes was all over inside three Tests with Australia superior in all departments despite missing some key players.
"It was nice to finish on a high note and we know the importance of every Test match in terms of the World Test Championship," said Smith, with points at stake in Sydney.
"It was a good game of Test cricket and it was a well-earned victory."
With pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood missing throughout with injury and Pat Cummins only playing one Test, veteran left-armer Mitchell Starc carried the attack, taking a series-leading 31 wickets.
Australia's other key standout was Travis Head, who blasted three centuries when elevated to opener after Usman Khawaja suffered back spasms at the first Test in Perth.
Despite their individual brilliance Smith said it was a team effort.
"The guys stood up in different scenarios and everyone did their job, we are proud of that," he said.
"We have an experienced side, we have played good cricket in the last four or five years, we have been a part of two World Test Championship finals, it's a great team to be part of.
"We know how to play on these surfaces."
While a dejected England leave for home well beaten and under mounting pressure, Smith told TNT Sports he planned to have "a jar" with counterpart Stokes and commiserate.
"I said to Stokesy, 'Come in for a jar'. I'm sure we'll see the (English) boys and reflect on what's been a fun series to be a part of."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0zlSKswqlw