Steve Smith Celebrates Ashes Victory as Australia Clinches Series 4-1
Steve Smith Reflects on a Successful Series
Following Australia's triumph in the fifth Test, where they defeated England by five wickets and secured the Ashes series 4-1, stand-in captain Steve Smith expressed his satisfaction with finishing the series on a positive note. He emphasized the significance of winning each Test in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and praised his team's resilience during challenging moments throughout the series. Smith also acknowledged the absence of Usman Khawaja, who has retired from international cricket after the Sydney Test. 'It was great to conclude on a high. We understand the importance of every Test in the WTC. The pitch offered a bit of everything. Each player has contributed at various points in the series. Playing at home gives us an advantage. Usman has had an incredible career; I was there for his debut. He has matured both as a person and a player, and he will certainly be missed in our locker room,' Smith stated during the post-match presentation.
Smith's Impressive Performance and Leadership
In the Ashes series, Smith emerged as the fourth-highest run-scorer, accumulating 286 runs across four matches and eight innings, boasting an impressive average of 57.20. He achieved one fifty and two centuries. Smith took on the captaincy role in the absence of Pat Cummins, who participated only in the third Test in Adelaide due to illness.
Match Overview
In the match, England opted to bat first and scored 384 runs in 97.3 overs. Joe Root was the standout performer, scoring 160 runs off 242 balls, including 15 fours. This marked Root's second century of the Ashes series, following his performance in the Brisbane Test. Harry Brook contributed a solid 84 runs off 97 balls, while Jamie Smith added 27 runs. For Australia, Mitchell Starc (2/93), Michael Neser (4/60), Scott Boland (2/85), Cameron Green (1/85), and Marnus Labuschagne (1/14) were key wicket-takers.
Australia's First Innings
Australia responded strongly, scoring 567 runs in 133.5 overs, establishing a 183-run lead. Captain Smith scored 138 runs off 220 balls, hitting 16 fours and one six. Beau Webster contributed 71 runs off 87 balls, while Travis Head was the top scorer with 163 runs off 166 balls, including 24 fours and one six. For England, Brydon Carse (3/130), Josh Tongue (3/97), captain Ben Stokes (2/95), Will Jacks (1/34), and Jacob Bethell (1/52) took wickets.
England's Second Innings
In their second innings, England's Jacob Bethell delivered an impressive performance, scoring 154 runs off 265 balls, including 15 fours. Ben Duckett (42 off 55 balls) and Harry Brook (42 off 48 balls) supported the innings, helping England reach 342 runs and setting a target of 160 runs. For Australia, Mitchell Starc (3/72), Scott Boland (2/46), Michael Neser (1/55), and Beau Webster (3/64) were among the wicket-takers.
Australia's Chase and Victory
During the chase, contributions from Head (29), Jake Weatherald (34), and Marnus (37) led Australia to victory by five wickets against England. Josh Tongue had a notable performance for the visitors, taking three wickets for 42 runs.
Post-Match Honors
Mitchell Starc was awarded Player of the Series for his exceptional bowling, while Travis Head, who scored over 600 runs in the series, was named Player of the Match.