Ashes 2019 | Fantastic effort to draw the series, Trevor Bayliss backs England

Trevor Bayliss, who has ended his long-term association with the England Cricket team has left on a high with the hosts being able to draw the series despite failing to get to the urn. Australia retained the urn when they won the fourth Test at Old Trafford but England were able to stop the visitors from winning the series as well and that effort has been praised by their now departing coach.

Bayliss hailed England's character throughout the series and feels that the 2-2 drawn result in this Ashes series against Australia was a "fair" result.

"It was a fantastic effort to draw the series, not being able to win the Ashes, but there was still pride on the line for the boys and Test Championship points," he told Sky Sports.

"To finish off well and level up the series I think we showed a lot of character. Two-two was a fair score. Both teams had their chances to win the series. We certainly did not play as well as we would have liked to."

From winning the World Cup at home to playing a long Test series, England had a long summer at home and even though they were prepared, Bayliss suggests that hosting the World Cup and following that the Ashes was even harder than expected.

"For all the coaching staff it has been a long summer. We knew it was going to be challenging but having now been through it I'm not sure we realised how hard it would be. It was tough and we were so close to both trophies but we will take one," he said.