Who fired and who flopped? Aussie Ashes player ratings
Jasper Bruce |
AUSTRALIA’S PLAYER RATINGS FROM THE ASHES:
TRAVIS HEAD – 10
629 runs at 62.90 (5 Tests)
Set the tone for Australia’s dominant series with a game-defining century in Perth, helped seal the urn with another in Adelaide, then made his first Test ton at the SCG. He did it all batting out of position at the top, scoring 229 more runs than the next-most prolific batter on either side. Could not have done much more.
JAKE WEATHERALD – 4.5
201 runs at 22.33 (5 Tests)
The jury is still out on the new left-handed opener, whose half-century in Brisbane was his only score above 35. Trapped LBW four times, prompting questions about his stance at the crease. Will be squarely in the sights of alternative openers Campbell Kellaway and Sam Konstas for a busy 12 months beginning in August.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 6
259 runs at 28.77, one wicket at 39.00 (5 Tests)
Made a handy couple of half-centuries early in the series but thereafter struggled to replicate the brilliant Shield form that earned him his spot back in the XI. Excellent fielding throughout, but ran himself out in Sydney for one of the series’ ugliest dismissals.
STEVE SMITH – 7.5
286 runs at 57.20 (4 Tests)
Took until a heroic 37th Test ton in Sydney – and 13th against England – for the stand-in captain to dominate the highlights reel with the bat, but had a sneakily productive series before that, dismissed only three times prior to the SCG finale. An expert pair of hands in the slips with 14 catches for the series, the most of any non-wicketkeeper.
USMAN KHAWAJA – 4.5
176 runs at 25.14 (4 Tests)
The curtain has come down on a wonderful Test career but Khawaja largely underwhelmed this series, starting with the back injury that scuppered him in Perth and led to intense external scrutiny. Strong contributor switching back to the middle order in Adelaide, but that was his only score above 40.
ALEX CAREY – 9
323 runs at 46.14 (5 Tests)
Hard to imagine after the Bairstow run-out incident last Ashes that Carey would haunt England even more this time around. Carey’s 28 dismissals are the equal-second most by a wicketkeeper in any Test series in history, while a century on his home deck in Adelaide was essential in wrapping up the series. Hit the winning runs to close out the series finale in Sydney.
CAMERON GREEN – 2
Four wickets at 70.75, 171 runs at 24.42 (5 Tests)
The man under most pressure after a tough series all round. Even his high score for the series – 45 at the Gabba – was overshadowed by a woeful premeditated shot that left his stumps skittled. His no-ball blunder in Sydney was a disappointing way to finish a series where wickets were also all too rare.
MITCHELL STARC – 10
31 wickets at 19.93, 156 runs at 26.0 (5 Tests)
Showcased career-best form as the linchpin of an understrength bowling attack. Passed Wasim Akram to become Test cricket’s most prolific left-arm paceman by wickets taken. Weaponised the new ball for more early wickets – four times striking in the first over of innings – and proved a handy lower-order contributor with two half-centuries. A deserving player of the series.
MICHAEL NESER – 7.5
15 wickets at 19.93 (3 Tests)
What kind of odds would you have got for Neser playing three of five Tests before the summer began? An outstanding contributor in all three; had a five-fer under lights in his first Test for three years and ended the best knock by an Englishman this summer dismissing Joe Root in Sydney.
SCOTT BOLAND – 6.5
20 wickets at 24.95 (5 Tests)
After a tough start in Perth, Boland recaptured his consistent best playing every Test match in a home summer for the first time. Largely played second fiddle to Starc, but notably dismissed England’s danger man Harry Brook four times.
BEAU WEBSTER – 6
Four wickets at 28.00, 71 runs at N/A (1 Test)
Emboldened those calling for him to replace Cameron Green as first-choice allrounder, besting Green’s top-score of the series in his only dig. Returned Test career-best figures with his off-spin to help lock up a win at the SCG. Couldn’t have played much better in his one appearance.
PAT CUMMINS – 6
Six wickets at 19.50 (1 Test)
Not since returning to the Test team in 2017 has captain Cummins featured in as few Test matches over a home summer. Cummins was excellent returning from the back injury he first reported over the winter, snaring Joe Root’s wicket in both innings as Australia confirmed a series win. Put on ice for the final two matches.
JOSH INGLIS – 2
65 runs at 21.66 (2 Tests)
Made starts but couldn’t live up to his reputation as a middle-order hit machine, with 32 in Adelaide his high score from three digs. His direct-hit run-out to dismiss Ben Stokes at the Gabba won’t show up on the stats sheet but was a pivotal moment in Australia’s push for a 2-0 lead.
NATHAN LYON – 5.5
Five wickets at 31.40 (2 Tests)
Australia’s greatest-ever off-spinner was reduced to a bit player on seam-friendly decks this summer. Only used significantly in the third Test at his happy hunting ground Adelaide Oval, where he suffered a series-ending hamstring injury.
BRENDAN DOGGETT – 5
Seven wickets at 30.71 (2 Tests)
Injuries opened up a chance for a Test debut, but struggled to nail his role as the man bowling short. Good returns in Perth but was tougher going in the second Test under lights and found himself behind Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson in the pecking order for Melbourne.
JHYE RICHARDSON – 4
Two wickets at 15.0 (1 Test)
Richardson’s comeback from the latest in a string of shoulder injuries was one of the series’ feel-good stories. Dismissing England’s best batter of the series Joe Root LBW was the undoubted highlight of his first Test in four years.
AAP
