ENG VS AUS - 5th Test, The Ashes 2019

That's it from the comm. team who have had a fabulous time covering the Ashes. Kept us on the edge of our seats with faster heartbeats and nail-less fingers. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das signing off on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman, Abhinand Raghavendran and Shashikant Singh.

Can someone's Summer get better than that? Only if You are Steve Smith. A double ton at Old Trafford and that set the tone for the urn to come back. England this time tried hard for a truce but were done in towards the final moments. England had pride, 24 Test championship points and a series to save. Archer, Broad, Stokes, Denly and Buttler raised their hands and ensured England drew level on the 4th evening of the final Test. A sojourn of 46 days ebbed and flowed and had a theme of its own like any Ashes series. But in the end, England and Australia would agree that a stalemate was the perfect result.

The Jambooree started off on August 1 and Steve Smith hardly took any time to make us realize that we live in the age of Smith. His contemporaries will agree as well. From 122 for 8, he lifted them to 284. He wasn't done. A second innings hundred followed and that paved the way for a huge win. Lord's had natural intervention and Smith again made the headlines thanks to his concussion. His concussion substitute - Marnus Labuschagne - also came into the limelight with a match saving fifty. England had their walls against the back at Headingley and the urn was almost on its way back. But Stokes rose from the Ashes like a phoenix and stole a thrilling win to make it 1-1.

Steve Smith in Ashes 2019: 144, 142, 92, 211, 82, 80, 23
Innings: 7 | Runs: 774 | Average: 110.57 | 100s: 3 | 50s: 3

Most runs in an Ashes series:
974 Don Bradman 1930
905 Wally Hammond 1928/29
839 Mark Taylor 1989
810 Don Bradman 1936/37
774 Steve Smith 2019

England's home Tests with Sam Curran:
WON (vs Pak)
WON (vs Ind)
WON (vs Ind)
WON (vs Ind)
WON (vs Ind)
WON (vs Ire)
WON (vs Aus)

Ashes series drawn level (previous winner):
1-1 in 1938 (Aus)
1-1 in 1962/63 (Aus)
1-1 in 1965/66 (Aus)
1-1 in 1968 (Aus)
2-2 in 1972 (Eng)
2-2 in 2019 (Aus)

Tim Paine and Joe Root share the Ashes Trophy 2019. But Ashes has been retained and the urn goes back Down Under. Paine and his mates taking a lap of honour.

Tim Paine: I have got a couple of regrets. We didn't take our chances. Our bowlers did well. Feeling sorry for them. We need to do better than what we did in this game. No doubt today was a bit of a dampener. To come to England and retain the Ashes was still huge, something which hasn't been done in 18 years. Joe (Root) and his team will agree that we have played some competitive cricket. We saw today that a bunch of competitive cricketers tried to go one up on each other. The way Wade applied himself was fantastic. He walks the talk. I am loving the job I have been given. I feel I have a little bit of cricket left in this old body. Both the sides will be very proud. We spoke ahead of the series that this would be a chance to make some memorable memories. We love playing in front of the England fans.

Joe Root: Having lost the toss, the way we played was fantastic. Today was brilliant as well on a flat wicket. We stuck in there. He (Archer) makes things happen. Sam Curran came into this game and did really well. We showed a lot of character throughout the series. We fought really hard. Credit to Tim and his team. Very difficult surfaces against a very good bowling attack. It was tough batting at the top. Trevor had added a huge amount to the Test team. He is very much valued in the dressing room. We are pleased to send him off in great fashion. Over a period of time, you get stronger relationships with players and coaches. Ben and Trevor always have had a banter trying to take the mickey out of each other. I am very much driven towards preparing for the Ashes which is 2 and a half years away. Hopefully, we will able to bring the urn back. That World Cup was phenomenal. We have given everything in this series as well. We are blessed to have some good support.

Steve Smith, Australia's Player of the Series: It has been amazing couple of months here in England. The cricket has been fantastic. Really proud that I have been able to perform. You have always got to believe. The middle of the wicket really played well. Wade showed that if you hang in there you could score. But not enough people hung in there with him. I saw Jofra last year at the IPL and realized he is a very special talent. He has got a very bright future. You always want to get better as a player. You need to keep working hard and continue doing what helps your team win games.

Steve Smith receives the Compton–Miller Medal for the second consecutive Ashes series.

Ben Stokes, England's Player of the Series: Obviously it was disappointing at Manchester not to have a chance to get the urn back. I think we can't look back and say what could have happened. It has been a wonderful series. It has been two very evenly matched teams. Everyone came into the summer and have showed they can put their hands up. Burns and Denly have shown what they can do for the team.

Jofra Archer, Man of the Match: It has just been exciting cricket since I have worn the English jersey. Being able to draw the series is really special. Test cricket can be perfect for you one day and it won't be the next day. There would be good days and bad days. I just need to keep going. The management team is very good. (On his duel with Wade today) Probably I was a little grumpy with the wicket being flat. It was just serious cricket.

And the big prizes will be given away now. First on the list, the match officials are getting their share of mementoes led by match referee Javagal Srinath.

Australia needed a more robust effort from their openers but Warner fell prey to his nemesis Broad and joined a dubious league of players who have been dismissed 7 times in a series by one particular bowler. Marnus Labuschagne for a change also didn't trouble the scorers much as his innings was cut short by Jack Leach. But the biggest blow of them came when Broad had Smith caught at leg gully. That almost killed off any little hope that Australia had. But then the hopes were rekindled by Wade's brave effort. He ended up with a ton but that was never going to be enough. As far as the Test championship is concerned, 56 points each to both the teams from this series. Hang on for the presentations.

18:13 Local Time, 17:13 GMT, 22:43 IST: The urn goes to Australia but Ashes 2019 is a stalemate. The score is deadlocked at 2-2. If Australia had Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, Ben Stokes along with Stuart Broad proved to be antidotes for Australia as well. Coming into this Test, Australia sensed they can break the jinx which has been standing tall since 2001. But the moment Paine decided to field first, Australia just haven't driven home the advantage. England's 294 was traded off by a measly 225 by Australia. The lead for England gave them the much needed shot in the arm and they ended up scoring more than 300 in the second innings thanks to a cocooned 94 from Joe Denly.

Jack Leach to Hazlewood, out Caught by Root!! It's 2-2! England square the series by winning this Test by 135 runs. An excellent catch from Root to finish it off. Hazlewood clipped it off the pads but Root at mid-wicket flung himself to his left to take that one-handed. The English players celebrate in a huddle. 24 championship points and a series saved. That's a lot for a team which was trailing coming into this match. Hazlewood c Root b Jack Leach 0(1)

Jack Leach to Hazlewood, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Josh Hazlewood, left handed bat, comes to the crease