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Australia's Ashes Triumph: Smith Hails 'Well-Earned' 4-1 Series Victory

Stand-in captain Steve Smith expressed pride in Australia's 4-1 Ashes series victory, describing it as a fitting and well-earned conclusion. He emphasized the importance of every Test match for the World Test Championship standings, where Australia continues to dominate. Smith credited the team's success to collective contributions from various players at different times and the side's extensive experience. He also paid tribute to teammate Usman Khawaja, who played his final Test match.

Key Points: Steve Smith on Australia's 4-1 Ashes Series Win

  • Australia wins Ashes 4-1
  • Smith highlights team contributions
  • Importance of every Test for WTC
  • Experience key to success
  • Tribute to Usman Khawaja
3 min read

'Well-earned victory; we know the importance of every Test,' says Smith after claiming the Ashes series 4-1

Stand-in captain Steve Smith reflects on Australia's 4-1 Ashes victory, emphasizing team contributions, WTC importance, and Usman Khawaja's career.

"It was a well-earned victory. - Steve Smith"

Sydney, Jan 8

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith reflected on his side's 4-1 Ashes series triumph with pride and perspective, describing the fifth Test as a fitting end to the hard-fought campaign. He also stated that the team knows how crucial every Test is in terms of WTC, with the side continuing to dominate at the top of the rankings.

"It was nice to finish on a high note, and we know the importance of every Test match in terms of WTC. It was a good game of Test cricket and it was a well-earned victory. It was a great wicket out there, it had a bit of everything," Smith said while speaking to broadcasters after the game.

Smith emphasised that Australia's success throughout the series was built on collective contributions rather than individual brilliance alone. "It has been magnificent. I think everyone stood up at different times. Alex, Travis, and Starcy were obviously huge standouts. Other guys stood up at different times throughout the series. That's what makes a good team. Trusting each other, guys standing up in different scenarios and situations. Everyone did their jobs, so we were really proud of that," he said.

Experience, Smith noted, also played a crucial role in Australia's dominance. "I guess experience counts for a lot in a series like this as well. It's obviously a big series. As an Australian and English cricketer, it's the pinnacle. We've got an experienced side. We've played some really good cricket for the last four or five years, obviously making two World Test Championship finals. We've got some guys in there that still want to keep getting better and improving. It's just a great side to be a part of," he said, highlighting Australia's consistency over recent years and their appearances in two World Test Championship finals.

Playing at home was another factor Smith acknowledged. "I think anyone at home plays better. We've grown up playing on these surfaces and we're accustomed to them. We know how to play on these surfaces, and we did it again this time around," he said.

Smith also paid tribute to Usman Khawaja, whose final Test marked the end of a distinguished career, saying, "He's had a wonderful career. It's been great to be alongside him for all of it. I've played in his debut Test match 15 or 14 years ago. He has just grown as a human and as a player. It's been great to play alongside him for a long time, and he's certainly going to be missed in our dressing room."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Smith is right about the importance of every Test for the WTC. It makes the league stage so much more engaging. As a neutral fan, I enjoyed the quality of cricket, but honestly, a more competitive series would have been better for the game. England looked out of ideas after the first two Tests.
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Ananya R
The tribute to Usman Khawaja was a classy touch. It's great to see such respect for a retiring player. His journey is inspiring. On another note, Australia playing at home is always a fortress. Hope our Indian team is taking notes for the next Border-Gavaskar Trophy here! We need to be prepared for those conditions.
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Vikram M
4-1 is a thorough beating. England's 'Bazball' clearly didn't work in Australian conditions. Smith's point about everyone standing up is key. In our Indian team, we sometimes rely too much on one or two stars (Kohli, Bumrah). We need more players to consistently stand up in tough situations abroad.
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Karthik V
Well-deserved win for Australia. Their system produces such tough cricketers. The focus on WTC is smart. Every match matters now, which is good for Test cricket. Hope the BCCI also gives equal importance to our Test schedule and doesn't just focus on IPL. The long format is the real test of a team's character.
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Michael C
As an Australian fan living in India, this is sweet! But have to say, watching from here, the respect for the game and the players is mutual. Indian fans appreciate good cricket, even from rivals. Congrats to the team. Now,

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