Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

England v Australia 4th Test Player Ratings. ENG vs AUS 4th Test Player Ratings

For the first time since 2001, Australia have retained the Ashes on English soil. Captain Tim Paine, labelled all kinds of names after a horror finish to the third Test, has outdone the likes of Ricky Ponting in having success on English soil.

However, Ponting and even Clarke would have loved to have Steve Smith in this kind of form. Not in recent memory has one man dominated a series like this, especially when you consider the man has missed 1.5 Tests. He has transformed boos into rapturous applause, with all associated with England appreciative of such brilliance but sick of the sight of him at the same time. From Plan A to Z, Smith had all the answers, then backed up by a pace bowling attack that put on a clinic. The Urn remains in Australia – utter joy in the Aussie camp!

The equation was simple for England: get bowled out for less than 100, then win the Test! After all, they have won both Tests in which they were bundled out for under 100 this summer, and lost the rest, except for Lord’s. In all seriousness, this is a series of missed opportunity for England, who often stood up to the fight when it was too late. Old Trafford was another example of this, starting the match so slowly and then always playing catch up as a result.

In this article, I will rate each player out of 10 from Australia’s win in the final hour at Old Trafford.

England

Rory Burns: One of England’s best at eating up deliveries, Burns’ early dismissal in the second innings was a dagger blow. His first innings fight gave England a foothold in the game. 6.5

Joe Denly: Thrown into the opener’s role to protect someone whose gap between bat and pad is wide enough to drive a truck through, Denly held his own in the second dig. Caught twice at short leg in the match. 6

Joe Root: Name: Joe Root. Age: 28. Occupation: Figuring out how to get Steve Smith out. It could be time Root is relieved of the captaincy to just focus on his batting, preferably in the number four spot. To be fair, there is not much most could do with such a great delivery first up in the second innings. However, the poor conversion rate and lack of patience with Plan A to Steve Smith still haunts him, along with becoming the first England captain to score three ducks in a Test series. Who could have possibly thought that bowling on Smith’s hip with three men out on the leg side would work? 6.5

Jason Roy: The absolute scenes when Jason Roy, who swapped with Joe Denly to bat at four, still faced up before Denly in the second innings. 20’s and 30’s don’t win you Test matches, just as leaving a huge gap between bat and pad isn’t the recipe to a big innings. Intruders will always rob you if you leave the door open: Jason Roy has now been bowled three times in a row this series. 5

Ben Stokes: Has the sun set on the glorious summer of Stokes? Indeed, it is very unfair for England to continue to pin their hopes on this man, who without him would have been staring at the prospect of not winning a single Test in a home Ashes series. A tough match with bat and ball for Stokes. 4

Jonny Bairstow: Bairstow’s lack of impact has also been a significant factor in England’s Ashes campaign. Again, unconverted starts is the sorry story. 5

Jos Buttler: Buttler had Australia nervous with fighting efforts, particularly in the second dig. However, just as Simon Jones’ ball to Michael Clarke in 2005 is written in Ashes folklore, so too is Josh Hazlewood’s beautiful inswinger to Buttler to leave survival to the tail. 6

Craig Overton: What a brilliant fight by Craig Overton, taking the game right till the final hour. It took a fine piece of bowling by Josh Hazlewood to dismiss him. His technique and commitment is something that some batsmen from both sides can learn from. 7

Jofra Archer: One of the biggest enigmas from this Test. A long summer rendered it understandable that his pace was down in the first innings. However, the pace was cranked up to 90mph+ in the second innings, after bowling 27 overs in the first. The change in intensity was too late. The big opportunity was when Australia were two down for not many, with Smith in early on the first day. England and Archer missed the boat then. 4

Stuart Broad: Broad is all over Warner like a bad rash. Eight balls is all it took in this Test to dismiss Warner twice. All in all, Broad has had a fine series, moving the ball at good pace. 8

Jack Leach: Leach scored the most important run in Ashes history at Headingley. He then conceded the most important run in the very next Test. However, he bowled well in periods, to go with more compact, organised batting. He has become a fan favourite. 6

Australia

David Warner: When you did no work in the group assignment but still got an A. It is incredible that Australia have retained the Ashes with Warner in such poor form. 0

Marcus Harris: Has not taken his opportunity with both hands with the bat. Not much better when it comes to reviewing. When it comes to celebrating, though, it is different story! 2

Marnus Labuschagne: One of Australia’s heroes in this series. It is such a brilliant story. The man would not have played a single minute had Smith not been felled at Lord’s. His half century on the first day was crucial, along with his wicket on the final day to remove Jack Leach. His place is locked and loaded for the Aussie summer. Baby Smudge! 8

Steve Smith: What can we say about this guy? Had Smith not missed 1.5 Tests in this series, Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 974 runs in a single series would have been under serious threat. Whatever England have thrown at him, he has had an answer. And man, did they try everything they could. There is an argument that he has come back even better since his ban, overcoming challenging circumstances and conditions to bury England. After giving everyone an eight month head-start, Smith now leads the run scoring chart in Test cricket in 2019. His series reads: 142, 144, 92, 211, 82. And not once did a bowler get him out on account of fine bowling. Rather, he was hitting out looking for quick runs. The key difference between the two sides. Absolutely extraordinary. 10

Also read: Is Steve Smith better now than pre-one year ban?

Travis Head: Another player in the Australian lineup who can go to another level. He often gets in, batting at least 20-30 balls before getting out. The next Test at The Oval will be a big one for Head. 4

Matthew Wade: His shot in the first innings was worthy of getting the axe. However, his second innings century stand with Steve Smith was a big positive in Wade’s match. Before that, sledging Jofra Archer might have been his only highlight. 5

Tim Paine: The first Australian captain since 2001 to retain the Ashes in England. Say what you want about Paine, but he deserves praise here after he was rightly criticised after Headingley. He managed the bowlers well, with a number of inspired bowling changes, most notably Marnus Labuschagne to Jack Leach in the final hour. A half century was icing on the cake. 8

Mitchell Starc: Australia got exactly what they expected out of Starc in this Test. He can bowl loose balls, followed by a jaffer out of nowhere. Batsmen can never relax against him, and that is a fine quality to have. He was third best behind Cummins and Hazlewood, but three of his four wickets were absolutely crucial in the context of the match: Ben Stokes once and Jonny Bairstow twice. This was coupled with a fine half century to flatten England further on day two. 8

Pat Cummins: Just brilliant. He showed why he is the number one bowler in the world, running in tirelessly. He was unrelenting on the England batsmen. The ball to Joe Root is written in Ashes history, but he never let up all Test. If he could get through Chittagong two years ago, then Old Trafford was never going to stop him. 10

Nathan Lyon: The cut/callus on Lyon’s finger hindered him on the final day. However, his very straight bowling throughout the Test was cause for frustration. After throwing the ball wider outside off-stump, he reaped some long-awaited rewards. Importantly, though, he didn’t let England get away too quickly. 6

Josh Hazlewood: Hazlewood’s run up and rhythm is so smooth that it is worth the price of admission on its own. Like Cummins, Hazlewood confirmed his world class status with relentless bowling, particularly on the third evening where he took three wickets in a spell that turned the game well and truly in Australia’s favour. It was fitting he took the final wicket. 10

So, as an Aussie fan, this moment is one to savour. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and the bowlers should be proud of their efforts, led well by Tim Paine in overcoming the disappointment of Headingley.

However, England, like Australia, need to look at some changes after this series. Joe Root looks burdened by the captaincy, and it is better for everyone if he can just focus on his batting. At 28, Root is now heading into the peak years as a Test batsman; England need to let him focus on that.

In the meantime, relive each of the first three Ashes 2019 Tests with player ratings!

1st Test Player Ratings: Smith and Lyon lead Australia to a big win

2nd Test Player Ratings: This Archer guy gets England back into the series

3rd Test Player Ratings: Ben Stokes plays the innings of a lifetime to get England home

Thanks for reading!