Paine proud of Australia despite defeat in fifth Test

Australia captain Tim Paine said it was mission accomplished even though his team lost the fifth and final Ashes Test against England to draw the series 2-2.

The tourists came into the match at the Oval seeking their first series victory in England since 2001 but came up short, losing by 135 runs on Sunday.

But Paine said Australia, who won at Edgbaston and Old Trafford but lost agonisingly to a Ben Stokes-inspired England at Headingley, had achieved their main objective in retaining the urn.

"We're taking the urn home so that's certainly what we came to do," he said.

"We're thrilled by that, a little disappointed by this game obviously, puts a bit of a dampener on it."
"To win two Test matches pretty convincingly, should have won a third (at Headingley) -- let that slip no doubt."
"But if we click them into gear while we've got Steve at the height of his powers and with the pace attack we've got, in the next few years we're going to be a very hard team to beat."
"I still feel I've got a little bit to give in that space and we're always trying to develop more leaders within our group as well."