Australia’s Steve Smith says an Ashes triumph in England was high on his”bucket list” after failing to win the urn in their two prior visits.
A part of the Australia sides that lost the Ashes in 2013 and 2015, smith, has become the stand-out celebrity at the present show, amassing runs from five innings.
Even the 30-year-old struck 211 and 82 during the victory at Old Trafford that put the vacationers 2-1 up to play with – and viewpoints which success as a burning dream fulfilled.
“It feels amazing to understand the urn’s coming home today,” said Smith. “I’ve been here a number of times now when things have not gone our way.
“We haven’t done to the best of their skill in 2013 and 2015 and also to come back and get the urn over here, it was consistently one I wanted to tick off my bucket listing.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way I’ve been able to perform throughout this series and help the team in what they’ve achieved – it’s very unique.
“Obviously there’s another game left where we’d really like to win it outright, but to know that it’s coming home – that is extremely gratifying.”
He’s proved to be England’s nemesis throughout the set Though Smith has been forced to sit out the Headingley Test because of concussion protocols after being attacked by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the game.
Neither should the home side expect any let-up for the fifth and final Test of the string, which gets under way live on Sky Sports.
“I have two hundreds from two matches in The Oval, therefore it is a place I do love batting,” Smith added. “When you’re in there, it is an incredibly great place to bat.
“The bounce is quite accurate and the square across the floor makes it a huge outfield so it is possible to score very quickly.
“We didn’t just come here in order to retain the Asheswe came here to win it so we are going to do our best to go 3-1 up in The Oval.
“I need to be the one out there doing my job for the group. I really like batting and I do not really like watching cricket – that is my motivation to stay out at the center as long as you can!”
Tim Paine, who replaced Smith after the scandal which saw him serve a 12-month prohibit this past year as the captain of Australia, praised his team’s resilience throughout the collection.
“This team’s been through a lot in the previous 12 to 18 months, several individuals more than others,” said Paine, who becomes the first Australian skipper to win the Ashes series in England since Ricky Ponting in 2001.
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