Khawaja took six in the final Test innings as Australia cruised to a 4-1 series victory

“It means a lot,” Khawaja told Fox. “The cricket is so great. As much as I wanted to score points and hit the winning points, I’m so grateful to win the final final and celebrate with my team-mates.”

“I tried to keep my cool but I found it really hard to control my own emotions throughout the Test match. It’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life to be able to finish here at the SCG. Everyone was so great. I can finally just relax.”

Labuschagne was run out for a vital 37 off 40 balls to leave Australia precariously placed at 5-121, still needing 39 runs to win, before Cam Green (22) and Alex Carey (16) steered Australia home despite some nervous moments.

Carey, whose glove and batting have been sensational in the series, hit the winning runs with a cover run to the boundary.

Despite the scare, Australia will be content to have heaped more misery on an England team that fell short in almost every way.

In 20 Ashes Tests on Australian soil since the start of the 2013-14 series, England have managed one win – a two-day affair in Melbourne last month on a pitch later described as “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council.

Baseball has fallen into obscurity, leaving England coach Brendon McCullum under pressure after an unsuccessful campaign against an Australian side missing Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for most of the series, as well as injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

Tensions threatened to erupt during the chase when a confrontation between England seamer Brydon Cars and Australian pair Jake Weatherald (34) and Travis Head (29) followed another episode of DRS controversy.

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England believed Weatherald had been caught behind, but the decision not to give out on the field was upheld on review, leaving Carse furious. A heated exchange ensued with umpire Ahsan Raza before Ben Stokes intervened.

Weatherald and Carse exchanged words before Carse and Head connected lightly as they walked side by side.

Australia kept their formation to finish the job and leave Khawaja a happy man.

More to come