Ashes tensions melt away for combatants

After tensions between the two Magellan Ashes rivals threatened to explode in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, leaders from both teams confirmed after the final match the series was played in good spirits.

Ashes angst hit boiling point in Adelaide when England's new ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad systematically sledged Australia captain Steve Smith in an attempt to throw the Australian off his game.

To the credit of the Englishmen it worked to some degree – depending on who you ask – but Smith only scored 40 and six in that Test compared to 641 runs in the other four fixtures.

The Jonny Bairstow-Cameron Bancroft headbutt saga kicked off the tour in Brisbane, but both parties played down the incident.

The silver lining of 'Headbutt-gate' was Bancroft's extraordinary press conference where he delivered a blow-by-blow recount of the run-in with a wit drier than the MCG pitch.

There were words between the sides in the remaining matches from Perth to Sydney, but the needle on the banter barometer barely reached halfway again.

So after the series, Smith and Anderson – deputising for an ill Joe Root – revealed whatever bad blood there was between the teams had evaporated in the heat of battle, which reached 42 degrees in the fifth Test.

"I think the cricket has been played in really good spirit," Smith said.

"We always play hard out on the field, both teams do, it's been played in good spirits and the cricket that has been played has been really good as well.

"I think it's been a fantastic series from that point of view."

While the sour relations between the Australians and India last year saw no end-of-series beverages shared, Anderson confirmed the Ashes adversaries would enjoy a drink together on Monday evening.

"I think the whole series on the whole has been played in a really good spirit," Anderson said.

"There's always going to be a few talking points throughout an Ashes series because it's so high profile and both teams are desperate to win, but that's just the nature of the series.

"On the whole it's been played in a really good spirit and yes, we will be going in their dressing room for a beer after and chew the fat, which is always good.

"Obviously, it's better when we win but we've just to take that on the chin."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Gillette ODI Series v England

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21

2017-18 International Results

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Match drawn. Scorecard

Fifth Test Australia win by an innings and 123 runs. Scorecard