SYDNEY: England’s leading bowler James Anderson says Australia played the pressure moments better than the battle-weary tourists and deserved their crushing 4-0 Ashes series triumph.
Steve Smith’s Australians swept to an innings victory in Monday’s final Sydney Test, condemning England to four comprehensive defeats in the five-match series.
The Ashes were relinquished by the third Test in Perth and England gave the impression by the final day of the series that they just wanted it all to end.
Vice-captain Anderson, deputising for stricken skipper Joe Root, said the writing had been on the wall for some time.
“We’ve known for a few weeks they’re going to lift the (Ashes) urn, but I guess, seeing them do it in person is tough to watch,” Anderson told reporters.
“There’s not a lot we can do about it. We’ve not played well enough and they’ve deserved to win.
“Just got to give them credit and they’re well within their rights to be over the moon with that win.”
Anderson, 35, who is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 523 in 134 Tests, said the tourists were unable to make their moments count during the series.
“I do think it’s been closer than 4-0. We’ve been on top in some games, if not all the games at some stage,” he said.
“We’ve just not capitalized on the key moments where if we kick on with the bat and get a big score in the first innings then we’ve put them under more pressure. Similarly, if we get them a few wickets down early, then a couple more would get us in the game and get us on top.
“They’ve played those pressurised moments and those situations better than us. When they’ve done that and put the pressure back on us, we have not coped with that very well and that’s why they’ve won.”
Anderson, who toiled away for 223.3 overs for 17 wickets during the series, said the tour outcome was galling for the team.
“After Perth we were all bitterly disappointed as we had come over here thinking we could challenge Australia and to be three down after three Tests was not where we wanted to be,” he said.
“All the guys in the dressing room are hurting. I’m sure they’re hurting as much as I am. That feeling that you get should make you determined to win the Ashes back in 2019.”
Looking ahead to the Ashes series in England next year, Anderson said he was “hungry” to play.
“I’m going to do everything I possibly can be to be ready for that series in 2019. I’m still hungry to play,” he said.
“I’m delighted Ive got through these five Test matches and bowled pretty well.
“I’m going to go away now and have a few weeks off and get ready for New Zealand in March.
“I’d never really liked looking too far ahead, but I’d still like to be around in 2019.”
Meanwhile, Steve Smith praised Australia’s awesome attack.
Mitchell Starc, John Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon all finished with 20 or more wickets in the series to take 87 in total to dominate the England batsmen.
“I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job,” the Australia skipper said.
“Each of our bowlers have 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-odd wickets that we’ve needed to take four Test matches.”
Cummins, who captured four for 39 to finish man-of-the-match in Sydney, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 23 at 24.65 and played in all five Tests.
Starc claimed 22 wickets at 23.54, Hazlewood 21 at 25.90 and Lyon 21 at 29.23.
Lyon, the leading all-time Australian off-spinner, has now taken 290 wickets at 31.64 in 74 Tests.
“Nathan has been exceptional with the way he’s bowled and the consistency he’s had has been outstanding,” Smith said.
“For me the moment that changed the whole series was Nathan Lyon and his run out (James Vince on 83) at the Gabba, that was such a huge moment in the series.
“Those sorts of plays can change a series and I think that was a series-changing moment.”
Having got his hands on the Ashes urn on his own turf Smith then turned his attention to the next meeting between the old enemies, and insisted he is keen to beat Joe Root and Co. in their own backyard. 
“The 2019 series in England is a long way away but that’s a bucket list item for me: winning an Ashes series as captain in England,” Smith said.
“It’s a tough tour and a great place to play. England play incredibly well at home.
“This team has been magnificent this series. The more we play together, the more we’re going to get better as a group.”