It's far from the grandstand finale we'd envisaged at the outset, but the 5th Test at Sydney Cricket Ground has at least been the most competitive of England's quartet of defeats in The Ashes 2025/26.

The one-off Test is the start of Afghanistan's month-long tour of India. After the red-ball game in New Chandigarh, they'll play a three-match ODI series in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai. This ...