Australia’s Steve Smith says an Ashes victory in England had been high on his”bucket record” after failing to acquire the urn on both prior visits.
Smith, a member of the Australia sides which lost the Ashes to England in 2013 and 2015, has been the stand-out performer in the current series, amassing 671 runs from five innings.
82 and 211 struck through the 185-run success at Old Trafford that put the vacationers 2-1 up with one Test to play with – and views that success for a burning dream fulfilled.
“It feels amazing to understand the urn’s coming home now,” said Smith. “I have been here a number of times now when things haven’t gone our way.
“We have not performed to the best of their ability in 2013 and 2015 and also to come back and get the urn above here, it was always one I wished to tick off my bucket listing.
“I’m incredibly pleased with how I have been able to perform throughout this collection and help the staff in what they have achieved – it’s very unique.
“Obviously there’s another game left where we’d like to win it outright, but to know that it’s coming home – that is extremely gratifying.”
Though Smith has been forced to sit out the Headingley Test because of concussion protocols after being struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the match, he’s been shown to be England’s nemesis through the set.
Neither if the house side anticipate any let-up for the first time and final Test of the series, which gets under way live on Sky Sports.
“I have two countless two games at The Oval, so it is a place I really do love batting,” Smith added. “When you get in there, it is a remarkably excellent location to bat.
“The bounce is extremely true and the square throughout the ground makes it a huge outfield so it’s possible to score very fast.
“We did not only come here in order to keep the Asheswe came here to win it – so we are definitely going to do our very best to go 3-1 up at The Oval.
“I need to be the one out there doing my work to the team. I love batting and I do not really like watching cricket – that’s my motivation to remain out in the middle as long as you can!”
Tim Paine, who replaced Smith following the ball-tampering scandal that saw him serve an 12-month prohibit last year as the captain of Australia, praised the resilience of his team .
“This team has been through a lot in the past 12 to 18 months, even a few people more than others,” said Paine, that becomes the first Australian skipper to win the Ashes series in England because Ricky Ponting in 2001.
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