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England ended a 5,468-day wait for a Test win on Australian soil – their first since Sydney 2011 – by chasing 175 in the chaotic fourth Ashes Test at MCG, where Australia collapsed to 152 and 132 after England’s 110.
Steve Smith reflects on Australia’s first home Test defeat in 5,468 days
Stand-in captain Steve Smith, unbeaten on 24 in the second innings, called it ‘a tricky one’ and admitted the pitch was ‘too much’ in favour of bowlers.
“Tricky one. Quick game. If we’d managed that extra 50 or 60, we probably would’ve been right in the contest at the end,” said Smith in the post-match interview with Isa Guha.
Smith praised England’s performance, noting they played well on Day 2 despite the low-scoring madness with 20 wickets falling on the opening day alone. He highlighted the seaming conditions that triggered Australia’s batting implosion, marking their first home Test loss to England since 2011 and snapping a strong record.
“Credit to England, they came out today and didn’t let us get away. And the way they started with the bat, they were aggressive, got a few away and softened the ball so it didn’t offer as much from that point, so credit to them for the way they played,” added Smith.
Also READ: Records and stats – Least balls faced by Australia across both innings in Tests since 1900
‘A special feeling’: Ben Stokes
On the other hand, England captain Ben Stokes, speaking to TNT Sports, created his team for making a strong comeback after losing the first three Tests of the ongoing series.
“It is a special feeling. Me and Joe [Root] have been on a few tours, and it has not gone particularly well.
“In particular, the couple days build-up to this Test match was a tough time for us as a team. The way in which we were able to keep the focus on the most important thing, which is the cricket that is played out there, was pretty exceptional.
“To come out here and put in a performance like that in the way we did, a lot of credit has got to go to the way not just myself, but how the senior boys handled that situation.”
