Australia captain Pat Cummins said that he was proud of his side that retained the urn in a series that he believes will be remembered in the same way as the 2005 series.
In the final Ashes match of the summer, Australia’s hopes were dashed as they were dismissed for 334, resulting in a 49-run loss, which led to England leveling the series. This outcome brought back memories of their previous disappointment in south London four years ago.
Although the Ashes had already been decided after the fourth Test in Manchester was washed out, Cummins and his team were determined to secure a first series win in London since 2001. However, despite having a 2-0 lead in the five-match series following victories at Edgbaston and Lord’s, they couldn’t seal the deal.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Cummins acknowledged that the high standards set by previous successful series, especially at home, had raised expectations for their Ashes campaign. Despite falling short in the final match, Cummins and his teammates left London with mixed emotions, proud of their overall performance but disappointed they couldn’t clinch the series win.
Pat Cummins: Cummins said his team had never even thought of playing for a draw in the final Test against England.
It never entered the conversation at all,” he told reporters.
