Cummins hails Australias resilience in dealing with Ashes curveballs

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ADELAIDE, Dec 21 - Australia captain Pat Cummins praised his players for persevering through a raft of injury setbacks as the hosts celebrated retaining the Ashes with victory over England in the third test in Adelaide on Sunday.

Master batter Steve Smith was a late withdrawal and Nathan Lyon suffered a hamstring injury early on day five but Australia went on to complete an 82-run win for an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

Cummins had missed the first two tests with a back injury but Smith stepped in to lead the side to victory in Perth and Brisbane.

You need a full squad to win an Ashes series, a five-test match series, and again, I think thats one of the things Im most proud about this group, Cummins told reporters.

Whatever team Ive ever been in, theres always been something that goes wrong at any time, and its how you deal with that.

And this groups just amazing for just cracking on, and (saying),Whats the job that needs to get done? Well just go and do it.

So theres been huge disruption with some of the players.

Ive missed a couple of games, but the way that Steve can just jump in, its seamless.

Other players who are on the fringe can jump in and be match-winners straight away.

I think its a huge credit to (head coach) Andrew McDonald, the coaching staff and the medical staff that we feel like weve got a big squad that we can draw on.

Playing at number four after Smith withdrew due to vertigo, Usman Khawaja scored 82 and 40.

Travis Head picked up the slow-bowling slack when Lyon pulled