Ashes 2019 | Lord’s draw not a great escape at all, says Tim Paine

08/19/2019

Australian skipper Tim Paine wasn't prepared to accept the drawn result as Australia having performed a 'great escape'. Even after being peppered at the post-match press conference about Archer’s impact, Paine continued to talk up his team’s performance and position in the series thus far.

When Australia slipped from a relatively comfortable position at 130 for three to 149 for six, it seemed like England might be able to pull off a late collapse and seal the win. However, Travis Head and Pat Cummins saw to it that the hosts didn’t have the final hurray. The setting and the eventual drama of the finish at the Lord’s Test caused some excitement, but not one where Australia barely managed a narrow escape, according to their skipper.

"I wouldn't say it was a great escape at all. I would've said we played reasonably well to 3-130 and then you have a little something that doesn't quite go your way and you've got a guy bowling 150ks and it's quite dark and it's difficult. That's Test cricket but we found a way out of it. I'm really proud of our team," Paine said at the post-match press conference, reported Cricbuzz.

The reporters tried to corner Paine with incessant questions about Archer, but the Aussie skipper stayed defiant on his team’s performance in the match, and thus far in the series. However, he did also gave the credit that was due to Archer.

"It's 1-nil, we go to a Test match next week in Leeds. We're in a great position. I thought Jofra bowled really well in this game. I thought particularly in the first innings - I think we faced 100 odd overs - so there were periods of times where I thought we batted really well, played Jofra well. I think at times he's very difficult to start your innings against because of the pace and bounce that he gets. But again, I think the guys who got in showed that it is doable. Guys have been around bowling 145, 150ks for a long time. It's a challenge but that's why we're playing Test cricket," he said.

In the end, the draw meant that the Aussies were one win away from regaining the Ashes.

"I never thought about that (being a win away from retaining the Ashes), good point, it got lost in the draw, it's a great situation to be in. This Test was tight all the way as was Edgbaston even though we won by 250 runs. It was a real battle for four and a half days," Paine added.

The longest rivalry in cricket will now head to Headingley for the third Test which begins on August 22.