‘Everyone stood up’: Smith says Australia owned big moments in 4-1 series victory

Captain Steve Smith has attributed Australia’s comprehensive 4-1 Ashes triumph to winning the big moments, fast bowler durability and outstanding fielding after a dramatic final day of the series at the SCG.

Usman Khawaja did not get his personal fairytale finish when he was dismissed for six, but Australia held their nerve in the fifth Test to round off an emphatic series victory, which leaves England with just one away win from their past 20 Ashes Tests.

Chasing a modest target of 160 after England added another 42 runs for their last two wickets on day five, Australia got there with five wickets in hand midway through a lively afternoon in front of 25,847 fans – a figure that helped set the record for the most attended Test at the SCG (211,032).

Bazball has officially been belted into oblivion, leaving England coach Brendon McCullum under pressure following a failed campaign against an Australian side missing Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for most of the series, as well as injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for all of it.

Cummins (managed) and Lyon (hamstring) joined their teammates at the Paddington End of the ground to receive the Ashes Waterford Crystal trophy, presented by Steve Waugh – a moment laced with irony given the former Australia skipper’s pre-series barb at chairman of selectors George Bailey that he had shied away from making tough calls.

“In terms of George, he’s done a wonderful job for a long time,” Smith said. “Since he’s been in charge we’ve made a couple of World Test Championship finals, we’ve played really good cricket, we’ve won this series 4-1. What more is there to say?”

However, Australia’s chase was not straightforward. At 2-92 in the 18th over, England’s slim hopes of victory looked over before a flurry of wickets – Australia lost 3-29 – ensured one final twist on the 18th and final afternoon of a largely one-sided series.

With the game still in the balance at 3-102 and Marnus Labuschagne on 20, Australia’s No.3 was given a reprieve when second-innings centurion Jacob Bethell spilled a chance in the gully. Moments later, Smith (12) was bowled by a beauty from Will Jacks to send a scare through the Australian dressing room.

Khawaja’s farewell ended in disappointment on his seventh delivery when he was bowled by Josh Tongue for six – bringing to a close a fine Test career that began at the same venue 15 years ago.

Labuschagne was then run out for 37 off 40 balls – later admitting he hoped there were no cameras in the dressing room to capture his reaction – leaving Australia a nervy 5-121, still 39 runs short of victory.

Cameron Green (22) and Alex Carey (16) guided Australia home despite a few final worrying moments.

The result epitomised Australia’s consistency and ability to remain calm under pressure, even with a number of team changes between Tests.

Travis Head was named player of the match for scores of 163 and 29, taking his tally to 629 runs at 62.9, while Mitchell Starc claimed player of the series honours for his 31 wickets at 19.93.

“I think we’ve played so well as a team,” Smith said. “We’ve obviously had some incredible individual performances.

“This man next to me [Starc], has been incredible. He and Scotty [Boland] playing all five games was a huge effort. They only had Brydon Carse play in every game [of the bowlers]. Everyone else went down. It’s a tricky place to bowl fast. The amount of force these guys put through their bodies on these wickets is outrageous.

“Trav and Alex obviously had incredible performances throughout the series. Everyone else just stood up at different moments. I think that’s what makes a really good team. We won those big moments throughout the series; we had that belief that guys would show up and get us out of the situation.”

Smith also praised all-rounder Beau Webster, who made 71 not out and claimed three crucial wickets. However, despite not picking a frontline spinner, Smith believes the decision was justified.

“Everyone who came in did a tremendous job, even Beau Webster,” he said. “Guys just did their job when we needed them to. I think our fielding was incredible as well.

“It is [justified]. We’re standing here winning, right? Had we not, maybe there’s a bit to answer for there, potentially. We thought the cracks were going to open up quicker than they did, and the rough wasn’t going to be as prevalent as it was.”

England arrived in Australia with genuine belief they could topple the hosts but were humbled at almost every turn.

Captain Ben Stokes, who finished the series with batting and bowling averages of 18.4 and 25.13, respectively, conceded England had fallen well short of expectations.

He made no excuses and acknowledged teams around the world had found methods to blunt their aggressive style, but indicated he wanted to continue as skipper.

“I’m definitely keen as anything to carry on,” Stokes said. “I’ve loved having a challenge thrown at me. The challenge is getting the team back to where we once were.

“We are now playing against teams who have answers to the style of cricket that we have been playing over quite a long period of time now.”

Players from both teams shared a beer on the field and in the dressing rooms afterwards. One side licked its wounds, while the other savoured another dominant campaign on home soil.

“The hype before this series was as big as I’ve ever seen,” Smith said. “Hopefully we’ve been able to entertain and live up to that hype.”