We can be hugely proud of retaining the Ashes – Pat Cummins after series ends at 2-2

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is hugely proud after retaining the Ashes, following the final and fifth Test match at Kennington Oval on Monday. Australia could not finish the series on a high as they lost the fifth Test match by 49 runs but they were able to retain the urn.

The visitors needed 249 runs to win on the final day of the series with all 10 wickets in hand but England was able to bounce back in style. England won by 49 runs to draw level in the series after Stuart Broad finished his career with a wicket.

Meanwhile, Australia won the first Test match at Edgbaston by two wickets after Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten knock of 44 runs. Furthermore, the tourists were able to take a 2-0 lead in the series by winning the second game by 43 runs.

After the fourth Test match ended in a draw, it was confirmed that Australia will retain the Ashes after having won it in 2021-22 by 4-0 while playing at home.

Australia was able to win the crucial stages in the first two Test matches and thus took a 2-0 lead. However, the visitors were dominated in the last three Test matches by England, who backed their aggressive approach.

Pat Cummins said in the post-match presentation while talking to the host broadcasters, “I think so (that 2-2 is a fair result). Two really high quality teams and it was a wonderful series to be part of. I didn’t even entertain the conversation of a draw, we were here to win the Ashes and it was a great day of Test cricket. We can be hugely proud of retaining the Ashes, not easy to do that against a quality England side. There were so many moments in this series, that’s what makes Ashes so special, the crowd and the pressure, a couple of moments if you could change then the result would have been different.”

Meanwhile, England veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad called time on his career and finished with 604 Test wickets. Cummins also showered praise on Broad for being a consistent performer for England over the years. Broad took a total of 22 wickets in five Ashes Test matches at an average of 28.41.

Cummins added, “Great competitor, always saves his best for Australia, he has had some hard days in Australia but always keeps coming and I wish him all the best.”

Australia will now tour South Africa for three T20Is and five ODIs.