Winning captain Pat Cummins claimed it was difficult to watch Australia’s run chase after they collapsed to 5-80 and then lost wickets in successive balls with 59 still needed.

“Yeah, pretty tense,” Cummins claimed after Australia’s three-wicket victory. “It was pretty nervous watching for the last couple of hours. Everyone would try to keep themselves busy and then look up at the scoreboard and then look back down. Amazing win, bit by bit. The boys are fantastic today.”

Alex Carey admitted Australia were in a tough position when he arrived at the fall of Travis Head’s wicket just eight balls into day four of the second Test.

“This game ebbed and flowed and [we had our] backs against the wall this morning,” Carey said after receiving the player of the match award for an unbeaten 98. “They came out last night and really put us under the pump. So it’s nice to obviously take those runs down.

“The ball was nipping around, and I thought Mitch Marsh (80 from 102 balls), his intent was outstanding and got us going a little bit. But yeah, it was certainly tough early.”

Despite finishing just two short of a century Carey was “happy” for Pat Cummins (32 not out) to hit the winning runs.

Carey also equalled Adam Gilchrist’s Australian record of 10 catches in a match.