Steve Smith was the difference between the two sides, says Joe Root

Australia won the Old Trafford Test by 185 runs on Sunday, 8 September, after bowling England out in the final session of day five, to retain the Ashes. Smith has played no small part, having so far accumulated 671 runs from five innings, at an average of 134.20. Ben Stokes, who made a brilliant 135* in England's unlikely one-wicket win in the third Test, is a distant second, with 354 runs, despite having played three innings more than Smith.

"It has been a series dominated by the ball," Root said after England's defeat. "Look, both batting sides have very experienced players who have not performed how they would have liked, and that tells a story by itself. Take Steve Smith out and it would be very similar from both teams."

England missed a couple of chances to dismiss Smith in the fourth Test, but Jack Leach overstepping when Smith was caught in the slips on 118 probably hurt them the most. The former captain gladly accepted the reprieve and went on to register his third Test double-hundred, finishing up on 211, before following it up with 82 in the second dig.

"I thought it was a brilliant Test match and a good wicket," Root said. "It was an important toss to win, but having got them in the position we did early on, it was important to make the most of that.

"Credit to Australia, it was a good partnership for them. We were not as good as we would have liked to be and consistent throughout the whole game. Bowling at Steve Smith in his form is difficult, and you have to make sure you take all your chances. We did not do that and that cost us."

Root, however, was happy with the fight England showed. While at Headingley, they dramatically turned the tables on Australia in a last-gasp effort, they tried their best to hang in there and salvage a draw, with No.8 Craig Overton and No.10 Jack Leach eating up a combined 156 balls.

"When you find yourself in a situation like today, you learn a lot about your team and the guys," Root said. "I thought everyone showed a lot of courage, resilience, a lot of character, and everyone should be really proud about how they approached the day."

Australia have retained the men's Ashes | #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/ExLUMukTRn

— ICC (@ICC) September 8, 2019

Though the Ashes might no longer be within England's grasp, there are Test Championship points at stake at The Oval, and Root looked forward to the prospect of finishing on a stalemate. "I think we will look at other aspects of the game and think maybe we could have been better," he said. "Most importantly, we have got to look forward to the next Test match and get something out of this series.

"I know the Ashes are not coming back, but in terms of the Test Championship at the end of the two-year cycle, those points could be crucial. You never want to lose an Ashes series. Every game against Australia matters. Turning up at The Oval and putting in a strong performance to win the game is crucial for this group.

"It matters to me, it matters to everyone involved. It is a big game."