Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said on Sunday that tourists’ “relentless” bowlers deserve as much credit for retaining Ashes as Steve Smith. world’s top-ranked Test batsman, Smith has been in superb form this Ashes with 671 runs, including three hundreds, at an aver of 134.20. Smith made a commanding 211 in Australia’s 185-run victory in fourth Test at Old Trafford, a result that left m 2-1 up with just one to play ahead of next week’s finale at Oval. But Ponting -- twice a losing Ashes series captain in England in 2005 and 2009 -- insisted bowlers’ efforts should t be igred.

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Ricky Ponting all praises for Aussie bowlers

“I think y (Australia) should have had a bigger lead, t just on back of Steve Smith,” Ponting, one of best batsmen of his generation, told a foreign broadcaster.“Everyone is talking about what impact he has had, but whole bowling department has been absolutely outstanding. Look at difference in bowling attacks in this game. 

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“(Mitchell) Starc, (Pat) Cummins, (Josh) Hazlewood and (Nathan) Lyon, match that up with England attack. re were more holes in that England attack than Australia one. 

“y were relentless in everything y did.” 

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Nasser Hussain appreciates Australian win

Meanwhile, ex-England skipper Nasser Hussain said Australia deserved to keep Ashes. That England took game into final hour of Sunday’s last day before being dismissed for 197, having been ne for two after Cummins took two wickets in two balls, said much about ir resolve. But Hussain, last England captain to fail to win an Ashes series on home soil in 2001, said hosts could have complaints given y had lost opener by 251 runs and n only drawn level thanks to Ben Stokes’s stunning century that secured a one-wicket win in third Test at Headingley.

“re has been progress,” said Hussain.

 “You can’t fault character and resilience of this England side. Or England sides would have just crumbled in a heap. But problem is y often find mselves 10 for two, 20 for two. Against certain sides you can come back from that, but from ught for two last night against this Australian attack, you can’t come back from that. Let’s be honest, if England had gone to Oval at 1-1, I think it would have been a travesty,” he added. 

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