Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Ashes 2019: England v Australia 2nd Test Player Ratings. ENG vs AUS 2nd Test Player Ratings
If there was ever any doubt as to what the ultimate cricket format is, the Lord’s Ashes Test confirmed it.
It is all well and good slogging white balls into the stands on flat tracks with little care of whether you lose your wicket in T20, but this Test was the ultimate examination of mental strength, skill and heart. Despite the disappointment of two days washed out to rain – which was the ONLY way any game in this series would end in a draw – millions were on the edge of their seat thanks to riveting Test Cricket.
Australia hung on for a draw, but England stormed back into the series, winning a number of mental battles. In this article, I will rate each player, from the Lord’s Test out of 10.
But, before then…
The Lord’s boo-crew: Before I go into each player, the Lord’s boo-crew deserve a special mention. How do we be cool like them? 0
Also read: Sri Lanka v New Zealand 1st Test Player Ratings: SL continue to fly in Test chases
England
Rory Burns: Dropped catches, missed reviews and general sloppiness from Australia against Burns almost makes it as if they want him to stay in. Credit to Burns – he continues to bat good time. He has now faced 524 balls for 223 runs in this series to date. 7
Jason Roy: *Insert comment about how Jason Roy is not a Test opener here*. Couple this with a bad drop off Travis Head on the final evening, and Roy’s Test doesn’t look a pretty picture. 1
Joe Root: Death, taxes, Root out LBW. A very dodgy catch on the fifth day was his biggest impact on the match. England need him to be delivering runs, rather than mimicking what umpires do when he is batting in this series. 3
Joe Denly: 20s and 30s won’t win you a Test, but they just might save your spot for another Test. Stunning catch to see the back of Australia captain Tim Paine on the final evening. 6
Jos Buttler: Very shaky in the first innings, followed up with a much more assured knock in the second innings under pressure. One of the best white-ball strikers in the world, Buttler played with incredible restraint to ensure England couldn’t lose. A 108-ball 31 kept England safe – yes, you read that right. 7
Ben Stokes: The summer of Stokes continued, playing a blinder in the second innings. His shift from survival to beast mode was something to behold, delivering key knockout blows to Australia’s morale. 9
Jonny Bairstow: Bairstow finding some form was a significant positive for England in this Test. Crucial first innings runs catapulted England to 258 from a position where less than 200 was a likely proposition. 8
Chris Woakes: Not the prolific Lord’s Test that Woakes has enjoyed in the past. However, his contribution was still mighty important, combining with Bairstow for a 72-run stand, along with three wickets in the first innings. 7
Jofra Archer: One of the most incredible Test debuts you’ll see, inflicting absolute carnage on Australia. I went in a little hard after he hit Steve Smith with a bouncer, but it is fair to say he was shaken up and didn’t quite know what to do. His comments post day four confirm this. With the ball, he was absolutely relentless over 44 overs in this Test, and he has given England another dimension in their push to retain the Ashes. Good pick for leading wicket taker? 9
Stuart Broad: Broady will be hoping Australia pick David Warner for the third Test, after dismissing him for the third time this series. Honest bowling effort right throughout the Test, finishing with four first innings wickets. 8
Jack Leach: No nonsense cricketer, focused on doing the basics right, as was the case when England won in Sri Lanka last year. Pitched the ball in the rough as much as possible to give England belief they could pull off an incredible win on the final evening. 8
Also read: Sri Lanka v New Zealand 1st Test Player Ratings: SL continue to fly in Test chases
Australia
David Warner: The main contributor in the group assignment was off unwell, so the next highly rated guy who hasn’t done much to date had to step up. It wasn’t the case, adding to Warner’s less-than-flattering away record. Couple this with a dropped catch in the second innings. 1
Cameron Bancroft: Bancroft’s work at short-leg remains his highlight of Ashes 2019 to date. He got through a very difficult opening period in the second innings, which could save his spot for the third Test. 3
Usman Khawaja: Khawaja has a significant battle on his hands, needing to overcome the very quick Jofra Archer. As Australia’s number three, and with Steve Smith possibly out of the next Test, he has to step up. A dropped catch on the first day he’d want to forget, too. 4
Steve Smith: Another incredible knock from an incredible player. Jofra Archer and England threw absolutely everything they had at Smith, and it took a sickening blow for this battle to end. If Smith is out of the next Test, Australia are in big trouble, given they would be 2-0 down in this series if it wasn’t for Smudge. However, all we can say now is thank goodness it is concussion – and not anything worse – that kept Smith out of day five. 9
Marnus Labuschagne: The first concussion replacement in Test history produced an innings that will be very difficult to top for any such replacements in the future. After getting hit flush on the grille with the first legal delivery he faced, Labuschagne sprung back up and fought admirably to get Australia to safety. Mental strength personified. He deserves a nine for the innings he played under pressure. 9
Travis Head: Looked mighty nervous in the second innings, but hung in to get Australia to safety. Whether Smith is in or out of the next Test, Head remains a key cog in the middle order. 6
Matthew Wade: A quiet Test from Australia’s number six, who has three single-figure scores in this series to go with his second-innings century at Edgbaston. Tough outing. 1
Tim Paine: Lots of errors in judgement from the Australian captain. From the toss to choices of shots and reviews, Paine couldn’t have won more admirers from this Test, given his place in the team was under question by many from the beginning. Sure, it was not only his decision to bowl first on a dry surface, but it is important to stamp his authority with the series simmering nicely. 3
Pat Cummins: Superb. Six wickets in the Test, along with a fighting effort with the bat in the first innings, which included witnessing Smith getting hit from the non-strikers end. 8.5
Peter Siddle: ‘Sids’ might have been wondering if he had done anything to tick people off in the dressing room. A host of dropped catches off his bowling means his figures aren’t as good as he deserves. With Australia’s rotation of quicks, he could be the one to sit out of the next Test. 7
Nathan Lyon: Excellent first innings effort, taking three wickets with attacking bowling. England then went after him in the second innings, finishing with expensive figures that may have put Royal Challengers Bangalore on notice for a possible IPL 2020 contract for Gaz. 5
Josh Hazlewood: It seemed like Hazlewood was never out of the Australian side given how he started the Test. A host of incredible deliveries headlined his pre-lunch spell on day two, bowling with excellent control on his return. A wicketless second innings did hurt Australia’s own push for victory, though. 7
In the end, England didn’t win the match, but they are right back in the series. The addition of Jofra Archer has taken them to another level, and given the weather looks promising for the third Test in Headingley, they start as favourites.
For Australia, they must do more than hope Steve Smith will be fit to play. There is every chance he won’t be, so preparation against the short ball as much as possible is key, as a number of batsmen have to step up if the Ashes are to be retained.
Thanks for reading!
Also read: Sri Lanka v New Zealand 1st Test Player Ratings: SL continue to fly in Test chases