"While it took longer than expected on the fifth day in Adelaide, eventually it was done. A series won, the Ashes retained for another year and a half until they next go up for grabs in England. For Pat Cummins, this makes three consecutive Ashes series captained without giving up the urn. The feat leaves him in sparse but fine company: the others to do it are Joe Darling, Don Bradman, Richie Benaud, Mike Brearley, Allan Border and Mark Taylor."
"It made things neater that Steve Smith missed this third Test, having captained the first two wins in Cummins' absence, so that it didn't feel like the full-time captain was swooping in to hoover up the stand-in's lunch. Those situations can be odd, like Adam Gilchrist filling in to lead what was very much Ricky Ponting's team, captaining two wins in India in 2004 before Ponting returned from injury once the series was decided."
Australia retained the Ashes after winning the fifth Test in Adelaide, securing the urn for another year and a half until the next series in England. Pat Cummins has now captained three consecutive Ashes series without losing the urn, joining an elite group including Joe Darling, Don Bradman, Richie Benaud, Mike Brearley, Allan Border and Mark Taylor. Steve Smith captained the first two wins in Cummins' absence but missed the third Test, creating shared contributions to the extended five-series hold since 2017/18. Australia still lacks an outright series win in England, having twice drawn 2-2 after losing the final Test at The Oval, which frustrates long-serving players despite upbeat corporate messaging emphasizing urn possession.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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