The Ashes: Australia player ratings

Australia - Cropped

Michael Clarke - 3

A hugely disappointing series for the Australia captain, which proved to be his swansong. Struggled badly with the bat, making just 132 runs at 16.5, with a highest score of 38. Was also outmanoeuvred at times by his opposite number Alastair Cook, although he did manage to end a glittering career with a convincing win in the dead rubber at The Oval.

 

Chris Rogers - 8

A rare steadying influence at the top of a fragile Australia batting line-up. Using all his experience of English conditions, he coped better with the home attack than the majority of his team-mates, displaying far greater levels of patience. Finished the series with 480 runs at 60, including one hundred and three half-centuries. Australia's man of the series, his retirement leaves a void at the top of the order.

 

David Warner - 7

Alongside Rogers, performed well against the new ball. The left-hander played with his customary aggression for much of the series, making 418 runs at 46 with a strike rate of almost 75. Passed fifty on five occasions, but was never able to go on and reach three figures and really make it count for the tourists.

 

Steve Smith - 8

Australia's top scorer with 508 runs at an average of 56. A majestic double-hundred in the crushing victory at Lord's - the first at the venue by an Australian since 1938 - was followed up by four failures at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. However, a superb 143 at The Oval reminded everyone of his class, and Smith now takes over from Clarke as the man to take the side forward.

 

Shaun Marsh - 1

Called up for just one match, replacing brother Mitchell for the fourth Test at Trent Bridge. Dismissed in almost identical fashion in both innings - for 0 and 2 - edging to the slips. Was subsequently left out for the series finale at The Oval, as his younger sibling returned.

 

Adam Voges - 4

Struggled badly in the series until the second innings of the fourth Test. As Australia slipped towards defeat at Trent Bridge, Voges made a stubborn unbeaten 51 that became lost among England's celebrations. Followed that up with an innings of 76 at The Oval, which may have secured the 35-year-old a place in the side for a series in Bangladesh in October.

 

Shane Watson - 2

Featured only once, in the opening Test. Continued to prove vulnerable against the full straight ball, falling lbw in both innings having made 30 and 19. Match figures of 0-47 from 13 overs with the ball did not help his cause and it remains to be seen whether the 34-year-old will be seen again in the Australia shirt.

 

Mitchell Marsh - 6

Ahead of the series, Marsh displayed excellent form with the bat - striking hundreds in successive tour matches - but faced questions over his bowling at the highest level. However, the all-rounder went on to impress with the ball in his three Test outings, particularly in Australia's victories at The Oval and Lord's, only to be undermined by a lack of runs. 

 

Brad Haddin - 2

Short of form prior to his arrival in England, Haddin endured a torrid time of things in the first Test. In addition to failing with the bat, the veteran wicketkeeper offered a second-ball reprieve to Joe Root and then watched the England batsman compile a momentum-shifting 134. Haddin subsequently missed the second Test for family reasons and was unable to displace Peter Nevill thereafter.

 

Peter Nevill - 4

Nevill impressed on debut at Lord's, combining sharp work behind the stumps with an encouraging innings of 45 as Australia thrashed their hosts. Yet having been kept in the side at Haddin's expense, the younger wicketkeeper followed a fifty at Edgbaston with three successive low scores.

 

Mitchell Johnson - 5

So much was expected of Johnson after he claimed a remarkable 37 wickets in the previous Ashes series Down Under. There were flashes of brilliance from the left-armer, who struck 77 in Cardiff, spearheaded Australia's attack at Lord's with match figures of 6-80 and then ousted Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in one fearsome over at Edgbaston. However, a lack of consistency undermined Johnson as he finished with the worst average of Australia's frontline bowlers.

 

Mitchell Starc - 6

Much like Johnson, Starc mixed periods of great potency with spells in which he was handled all too easily. Only Stuart Broad claimed more wickets than the 25-year-old, but Starc's 18 scalps came at 31 apiece and he often proved expensive. Two fifties with the bat provided further evidence of his all-round talent.

 

Josh Hazlewood - 5

Hazlewood's statistics make for encouraging reading - the seamer picking up 16 wickets from four Tests at an average of 26. However, he was unable to provide the control Australia yearned for in Ryan Harris' injury-enforced absence and appeared somewhat low on confidence as a result. Sat out the final Test due to "niggling problems".

 

Nathan Lyon - 7

Australia's most reliable bowler, Lyon provided a constant threat and was certainly not flattered by a haul of 16 wickets at 28. England's attempts to take the attack to the off-spinner often proved unsuccessful and he can be proud of his efforts in a losing cause.

 

Peter Siddle - 9

Only selected once the series had been lost, Siddle could hardly have done more at The Oval to suggest he should have been called into action sooner. Match figures of 6-67 from 37.4 overs tell their own story.

Author(s)