Ashes 2019 | You try your best, but then one guy like Steve Smith can make all the difference, says Joe Root

After Jofra Archer floored the former Australian skipper with a nasty delivery that forced Smith to be ruled out from the third Test, Smith returned with more vigour and hit his first double hundred of the series - the third century in four innings across Tests - and then followed it up with 82 in the second innings. His series tally stands at 671 runs in five outings, nearly the double of what the second-best Ben Stokes (354 runs) has in eight innings. 

"You turn up to an Ashes series you put everything you can into it. You leave everything out on the field. Everyone has done that. At times we have not been at our absolute best. We have played a very good side that has performed well in these conditions. Look at the Test matches and there have been times when one guy (referring to Smith) has made a difference and that has probably cost us the urn this time around," Root said at the post-match press conference, reported Cricbuzz.

Quite understandably, England were left to rue the missed chances against Smith en route his double ton – a half chance that slipped through Archer’s hands when he was on 65, the near run-out on 82 or the Jack Leach no-ball when Smith was on 118. All that when, after winning a crucial toss, the hosts had Australia on the mat early at 28/2.

"I thought it was a brilliant Test match and a good wicket. It was an important toss to win but having got them in the position we did early on it was important to make the most of that. Credit to Australia, it was a good partnership for them. We were not as good as we would have liked to be and consistent throughout the whole game. Bowling at Steve Smith in this form is difficult and you have to make sure you take all your chances. We did not do that and that cost us," Root said.

Smith added 116 runs for the third wicket partnership with his concussion substitute Marnus Labuschagne to bail Australia out of the puddle, and then stitched another 145-run stand with his captain, Tim Paine. With the ball, Australia’s consistency paid rich dividends with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood the chief destroyers. Once England handed their rivals a 196-run first-innings lead, the loss seemed inevitable.

"Pat has bowled good areas. He has asked good questions a lot of the time and in many ways that is a good lesson for us as a side. It has been a series dominated by the ball. Look, both batting sides have very experienced players who have not performed how they would have liked and that tells a story by itself. Take Steve Smith out and it would be very similar from both teams," Root noted.

Yes, there are a few positives, and Root is keen to fall back on them with another Test match still to be played at The Oval from Thursday. Although Australia’s relentless pace attack wore down their resistance eventually, there were shades of the Leeds miracle visible yesterday from the English batsmen.

"I thought the guys fought extremely bravely. Dug in and fought and put a high price on their wicket. Almost makes it a little bit harder to take but at the same time I could not be more proud with how we fought today," Root said.

“I think we will look at other aspects of the game and think maybe we could have been better and most importantly we have got to look forward to the next Test match and get something out of this series. I know the Ashes are not coming back but in terms of the Test championship at the end of the two-year cycle those points could be crucial. You never want to lose an Ashes series. Every game against Australia matters. Turning up at the Oval and putting in a strong performance to win the game is crucial for this group. It matters to me, it matters to everyone involved. It is a big game," Root added.