Smith happy to fill his boots while purple patch lasts

You can never be satisfied because the game can bite you pretty quickly: Smith © Getty

After such a dreary finale blighted by a lifeless and slow MCG pitch, it is hard to feel enthused with the fourth Test likely to be quickly consigned to an afterthought bar a few individual batting feats.

For Australia, who battled a virus sweeping through the team and apparent apathy, they avoided a Test defeat by batting out a draw and in the process stretched their mighty home Test record over England to nine matches without defeat.

It may have been dull and excruciating but it was mission accomplished for Australia, who endured a baffling performance after an utterly dominating first session of the match - which feels like a lifetime ago considering the slowness of the Test.

Australia have often struggled to modify their innately aggressive approach and play out batting draws but a succession of batsmen impressively blunted England's attack albeit on a road-like pitch. It was the second time this year - following their draw in Ranchi - Australia managed to bat out a final day, something they hadn't done previously since 2011. It spoke of the group's more adaptable approach and humility, characteristics not always engrained in the Australian psyche.

Of course, the peerless Steve Smith was the hero with another effortless unbeaten century. Even though he was under pressure, particularly after the quick wickets of David Warner and Shaun Marsh before lunch, nothing fazes Australia's redoubtable captain. His unwavering focus and ironclad technique - for him, anyway - makes Smith adaptable to any situation and, once again, he would not let Australia lose even though the hosts played an overall sloppy Test. On a flat and slow pitch, England stood little chance of taking out Smith, who passed 3000 Test career runs in Australia at an astounding average of over 75.

"It's a shame we had to call it off. I could have been batting another hour, it was good fun," Smith told reporters on Saturday (December 30). "I'm enjoying it, I feel like I am hitting it really well and hopefully I can finish off well in Sydney.

"I've had to work really hard but I feel my game is in really good order," he added. "I'm adapting to each bowler and changing my plans. You can never be satisfied because the game can bite you pretty quickly. I just enjoy batting and making runs."

Smith aside, the normally brash Warner set the tone with a stonewalling 86 from 227 balls and Mitchell Marsh, the powerful allrounder, impressively played against type to showcase his burgeoning maturity. It was an unfamiliar situation for Marsh but the West Australian proved he had the temperament to stick it out in dour fashion.

Unlike his freewheeling maiden ton on the fast WACA pitch in the previous Test, Marsh survived a scratchy start and defended stoutly scoring his first 10 runs off 99 balls. When the dull fourth Test was mercifully called off, Marsh was unbeaten on 29 from a staggering 166 balls in another welcome tick for his evolving batting.

Smith said he was delighted with Marsh's determined occupancy of the crease. "I'm really pleased how he played," he said. "Walking off today he said 'I'm proud of myself, 12 months ago I wouldn't have been able to do that'. He's come a long way, he had to change the way he played."

Even though they finished the Test on a positive note, some of Australia's Ashes winning afterglow alleviated through several familiar problems. In the first innings, Australia suffered an abominable collapse of 7 for 67 - made even worse considering batting was a breeze for the entirety of the Test.

"I would say we let ourselves down in the first innings," Smith said. "We were in a pretty good position three down (before collapsing). 327 was not enough. It was hard to get in front of the game and get a result."

Australia's much-hyped bowling attack lacked spearhead Mitchell Starc's sizzle and found it difficult to threaten on the barren pitch. Starc's absence showed how vulnerable Australia could be without one of their blue chip bowlers and, perhaps, their depth isn't quite as vaunted after reserve quick Jackson Bird endured a wickletless performance.

Australia added spinning allrounder Ashton Agar to their fifth Test squad as question marks surround Starc's availability as he recovers from a bruised heel. After such a grinding Test, Smith had mixed feelings over his talisman missing the match and was unsure if Australia would play Agar alongside frontline spinner Nathan Lyon on a SCG deck that traditionally favours spin.

"Happy he (Starc) didn't play and do further damage on a flat wicket although his reverse swing would have been handy out there," Smith said. "When we get to Sydney we will see what the wicket is... it could be green or spin a bit."

After a patchy performance, which dented their dreams of an Ashes whitewash, Australia will be looking for a more rounded performance to start 2018 and finish the series in style.