The Ashes 2017-18 is done and dusted and the Poms will go empty handed as Australia registered a comprehensive victory in Sydney by innings and 123 runs to finish the Ashes scoreline at 4-0. Steve Smith credits his bowlers for his first Ashes series win as captain and labeled them as more patient.

Smith was the major difference between both teams as he scored mind-boggling 687 runs in seven innings of this series, but rather than taking the credit, he looked happier with his bowlers.

However, he was happy with his batsmen, who contributed six additional centuries apart from his three. Smith said “At times we had to bat for a little bit longer for the runs that we wanted. It was a series of patience and perhaps our bowlers had better patience throughout the series.”

“One thing this team’s done really well this series, they’ve adapted to different tempos in the game, different situations in the game and it’s been pleasing to see the way the batting group has progressed.

He further quoted “Looking at the series as a whole, England had their foot in the door in most test matches but we just won the key moments in the games and didn’t let England back into the games, which was crucial. I was really pleased that we were able to do that.”

All four Australian bowlers took wickets in excess of 20 and contributed immensely in every victory, where Patrick Cummins topped the wicket charts.

Number one Test batsman praised his bowling arsenal and added “I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job. Each of our bowlers has over 20 wickets which showed that the guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one another and helped us take the 80 wickets that we’ve needed to take four test matches.”

“Nathan has been exceptional with that as well, the way he’s bowled and the consistency he’s had has been outstanding.”

The New South Wales lad mentioned two special contributions in this series and took the names of Marsh brothers and Nathan Lyon’s direct hit run James Vince out in Brisbane Test.

“For me, the moment that changed the whole series was Nathan Lyon and his run out at the Gabba, that was such a huge moment in the series and those sorts of plays can change a series and I think that was a series-changing moment,” he concluded.