England must wait for their chance to reclaim the Ashes urn but Stuart Broad and Jack Leach ensured a first drawn series since 1972 by condemning Australia to a 135-run loss at The Oval.

Last week’s win at Old Trafford ensured the tourists would be lifting one of sport’s smallest but most revered prizes at the close – but their celebrations came tinged with the disappointment of defeat and a 2-2 series scoreline.

After asking Australia to chase a towering total of 399, England finally cracked Steve Smith’s code – dismissing him for under 50 for the first time in 11 innings – and outlasted a defiant Matthew Wade, who made 117.

Broad and Leach finished with four wickets each as the tourists were bowled out for 263, Broad grabbing the main prize when Smith flicked to Ben Stokes at leg-slip for just 23 and Leach ending things at 6.10pm with two wickets in two balls.

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Snap shot

Jofra Archer, right, and Australian centurion Matthew Wade continually exchange words during a tense afternoon battle
Jofra Archer and Matthew Wade continually exchanged words during a tense afternoon battle (Mike Egerton/PA)

Stuart Broad took four second-innings wickets
Stuart Broad took four second-innings wickets (PA/John Walton)

Wade more lethal than Archer

Jofra Archer and Matthew Wade were embroiled in a thrilling battle
Archer and Wade were embroiled in a thrilling battle (Mike Egerton/PA)

Smith’s stunning series

Smith was, arguably, single-handedly responsible for Australia retaining the urn. He registered a superb average of 110.57 from his seven innings, despite finishing with his lowest knock of the series. The 30-year-old was denied an 11th successive 50 against England by Ben Stokes’ catch off Broad, falling for 23. His string of sensational knocks totalled 774 and Smith could easily have challenged Don Bradman’s five-match series record of 974 had he not been curtailed by concussion and missed three innings. He posted the highest number of runs in a five-match series since Brian Lara managed 798 against England in 1993-94.

Woeful Warner

David Warner contributed little for Australia
David Warner contributed little for Australia (Mike Egerton/PA)

Root reaches surprising milestone

More renowned for his batting and far from being considered a genuine all-rounder, England captain Joe Root remarkably reached 50 international wickets across all formats on Sunday. A change of angle gave the Yorkshireman – who earlier in this match reached 7,000 Test runs – another milestone moment. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was the victim, prodding the delivery straight into the hands of Jos Buttler at short-leg. Root later took two fine catches off successive Leach deliveries to secure a 2-2 draw for his side.

Aussie skipper ends review Paine

Australia take the urn home
Australia take the urn home (Mike Egerton/PA)

Surrey searching for greatest XI

Alec Stewart, who has a gate named after him at The Oval, talks to England’s Jason Roy, Jofra Archer during the final Test
Alec Stewart, who has a gate named after him at The Oval, talks to Jason Roy and Archer (Mike Egerton/PA)

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