Australia Captain Tim Paine Is Proud Of Australia Despite Defeat In Fifth Test

Mumbai: England defeated Australia by 135 runs in the fifth Test as 2019 Ashes ended in a 2-2 draw. This is the first time since 1972 that an Ashes series ended in a draw. Australia won 14 of the 24 Ashes series played between the two drawn series. Overall, it is the sixth time that an Ashes series ended in a draw.

Australia captain Tim Paine said it was mission accomplished even though his team lost the fifth and final Ashes Test against England to draw the series 2-2.

The tourists had come looking for their first series win in England since 2001 in the match at the Oval, but lost by 135 runs on Sunday.

But Pine said Australia, who won at Edgbaston and Old Trafford but lost aggressively to England, inspired by Ben Stokes at Headingley, achieved their main objective in retaining the Ashes.

“We are taking the urn home, so of course what we have come to do,” he said.

“We are thrilled by this, a little disappointed with the game, obviously a little greeted by it.”

“We can be really proud of the way we have come here, which is a challenging place for the Australian team to come and play and win,” he said.

“Should have been very confident to win two Test matches, a third (at Headingley) should have won – let that slip be no doubt.”

Paine said winning the first Test at Edgbaston, where Australia had won by 251 runs, was crucial to the confidence in his side.

“There was a lot of discussion about how difficult it was for us to have a fort and start the series, perhaps by design, so for us to win that first Test and win it, in the end, a lot of confidence gave us confidence that We can do this, ”he said.

The captain said that he still feels that he has a role in taking the team forward.

“We’ve still found a way to go,” he said. “Obviously Steve (Smith) had an incredibly good series and we won a few Tests by ourselves. So we’ve got some parts that we have to improve upon.

“But if we click into gear after Steve has got him to the height of his powers and the fast pace attack we’ve got, we’re going to be a very tough team to defeat him in the next few years.”

“There has been a lot of improvement on this side,” Pine said.

“I still feel like I’ve got a little bit to give that place and we’re always trying to develop more leaders within our group.”

Smith, who scored 774 runs in just seven innings, said he was tired after a long tour, including the World Cup.
The former captain, who returned to international cricket in June after a ball-tampering ban, got a chance to stand out from the crowd in South London.

“It was a good reception,” he said.

“It would have been nice if I had scored a few more runs under my belt in this game.

“I have given all this since I have been here for the last four and a half months in every Test match that we have played and I have nothing left to give today.

“I’m too ripe to be mentally and physically honest. I’m looking forward to a few weeks’ rests before the Australian goes into summer.”

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