Pat Cummins calls Ashes tour a success despite drawn series

England claimed Bazball a success after drawing the Ashes 2-2 but Pat Cummins said the Australians could leave with their heads held high.

Not enough runs at key times for Australia, too many runs for England and the absence of Nathan Lyon all conspired for a “missed opportunity” to end a 20-year Ashes drought in England according to Aussie skipper Pat Cummins.

While the captain conceded his men had not achieved what they set out to after the fifth Test went the way of the home team and the series ended 2-2, Cummins said it was still a successful tour with the urn coming home, again, as well as the title of world Test champions.

But he lamented the inability to match England’s ultra aggressive run scoring, and the mammoth 592 total in the fourth Test at Manchester, as the series went on having snared the opening two matches in gritty style.

“Felt like we got ourselves into some really good positions, first of all winning the first two games, but then Headingley and again this week – matchwinning positions we didn’t quite capitalise on,” Cummins said in the aftermath of a final day loss at The Oval.

“That happens. We were out of it in Birmingham and found a way to win. Once we reflect on it, we’ll be proud that we were able to retain the Ashes, it’s been a wonderful tour, but we all turned up today hoping to get up and win 3-1.

Pat Cummins lifts the Ashes urn alongside teammates. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“Coming over here and retaining the Ashes feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. In 2019, we were all pretty happy about retaining the Ashes, so don‘t think we should lose sight of that. Think it’s a huge achievement to come over here and win and get ourselves into many winning positions.”

The Aussies only scraped past 300 twice in the final three Tests, two of which were won by England, with rain in Manchester arguably costing them a third victory.

The biggest score came in what was ultimately a failed run chase, reaching 334 in the pursuit of a mammoth 384 for victory.

The lack of steady runs in comparison to the opposition was not lost on Cummins.

“Think there’s a couple of key partnerships batting-wise that felt if we’d just put on another 50 runs that it could really have turned the tide in our favour,” Cummins said.

”No doubt that the one big innings they put on (at Old Trafford), you look at could we maybe do some things a little differently, but you never know if that will change anything. There’s too many unknowns.”

Ben Stokes and Cummins finished all square. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

A calf injury that forced veteran spinner Lyon out of the series proved a turning point also according to Cummins.

The Australians didn’t play a spinner at Old Trafford, and while rookie Todd Murphy took six wickets at The Oval, Cummins said Lyon’s absence was telling as a chance to win a first series in England since 2001 went begging.

“It‘s pretty clear just how important Nath is in all conditions,” he said.

“And I think we probably felt that in Manchester, not having a spinner out there just for that change of pace, someone you feel can control the pace of the game when the wicket’s quite flat and pace bowlers potentially can’t as well.

“Looking at this week, Todd did a fantastic job. He took four wickets in the second innings but always felt like he was asking questions and could get breakthroughs when the wicket didn‘t have a lot on offer, so really impressed with Todd. Hopefully, Nath has plenty more cricket left in him, but Todd is there ready to go as well which is great.”

“We just missed what we were hoping to come over here to achieve, but to win the World Test Championship and retain the Ashes is a pretty successful tour.”

Originally published as Pat Cummins calls Ashes tour a success despite drawn series