Ashes 2019: England v Australia 1st Test Player Ratings. ENG vs AUS 1st Test Player Ratings
“Is this the most intimidating ground in world cricket?”, asked a UK journalist. “This one? I could name 15”, replied Tim Paine.
At 122/8 on the first day, Paine’s statement certainly didn’t look vindicated. The Barmy Army was loving it. Wickets were tumbling as often as England fans booed, with Australia’s batting not holding up to the demands of Test Cricket on the opening day. This was except for Steve Smith, of course, who might have tempted every Australian fan to head to Canberra immediately and campaign for the man to be the new Prime Minister.
However, you can back England to bounce back because they messed up badly here. James Anderson wasn’t fit. Moeen Ali is not a first-choice specialist spinner. Their top four still has an air of vulnerability about it, despite Burns’ fine Test. Among other concerns, these are their biggest, with England surrendering an Ashes lead thanks to their sixth loss in seven Ashes Tests. Worth booing.
Each player from this Test will be rated out of 10. As always, this is a light-hearted take on the action.
Umpires
Before we take a look at the players, you have to analyse the second-most talked about participants behind Steve Smith. If you feel like you are having a bad time at work, spare a thought for the only two guys in white with no numbers on their back.
Yes, there is always pressure on umpires, but Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson didn’t do justice to their selections in a big Test. All-in-all, there were 15 errors in the match, which is too much. Thank goodness for DRS. Eyesight company Specsavers will be chasing have two very good leads to join their customer portfolio. 1
England
Rory Burns: Burns looked easy meat after the Ireland Test. After all, he seemed vulnerable on both edges. However, he produced a fighting first innings century (rode his luck at times) that put England well in the game here. The challenge will be to back this effort up at Lord’s. 8
Jason Roy: If someone told you that Jason Roy would spend more time batting than James Anderson bowled, you would have thought England would win by 500. In the end, Roy tried to hit 500 off one ball which got him bowled. Awful shot in the context – am still far from convinced that he is the right man to open for England in Tests. 2
Joe Root: This was more of the same from Joe Root in an Ashes Test. Spent hours in the fielding trying to work out how to dismiss Steve Smith, before getting dismissed after making starts. The England physio is now said to be racing the clock to have Root’s arms in good condition for the next Test after so many calls for a review. 6
Joe Denly: Reviewed his Test career in the second innings. Joe was unsure whether he hit a cricket ball, much like how many England fans are unsure of how he is in the side. 3
Jos Buttler: Will want to delete this game out of his memory like Nick Compton deletes tweets. Dismissed cheaply twice by Pat Cummins. He is one that has to step up for England. 1
Ben Stokes: Solid first innings fifty. England would want more control from Stokes with the ball, given he has an important role to play as an all-rounder. 6
Jonny Bairstow: One cost of England’s ODI rise. One of England’s best Test batsmen four years ago now can’t buy a run in the format. 3
Moeen Ali: How rude of Australia to play with a 12th man. The difference in quality between the two offspinners was as significant as it was crucial. Moeen surely misses out in the next Test, despite his good last 12 months with the ball in Tests. This is unless England choose to pick him as the second spinner. 2
Chris Woakes: Too good to be batting down at nine. Also, it was alarming why he didn’t bowl more in the second innings after a solid outing on the first day. 7
Stuart Broad: Broad can tell his grandkids one day that he got Steve Smith out in this Test. He doesn’t have to tell them for how much, though. A quality five-wicket haul on the first day to go past 450 wickets in the process. Also involved in a big partnership with Chris Woakes in the first innings. 8
James Anderson: Bowled four overs but still had more of an impact than some of his teammates. Such was England’s match. Should never have played this Test. Enter Jofra Archer. N/A
Australia
David Warner: Tim Paine owes David Warner a beer for putting him on the boundary. His best moment was showing his empty pockets to the England fans giving him stick. Australia will be after more from Warner with the bat. 2
Cameron Bancroft: Excellent in the field, but not so much with the bat on his Test return. Should get another chance at Lord’s and needs to make it count. 3
Usman Khawaja: Khawaja could score 15 runs and have that innings talked about for hours to come, such is his pleasing strokeplay. If he can get past his starts in this series, Australia will benefit significantly. 5
Steve Smith: This bloke could be in doubt for the Lord’s Test after carrying the batting lineup for nearly the entire Test. Indeed, Steve Smith had a number of outstanding performances before Cape Town. However, this was the best, holding the fort in challenging circumstances in the first innings to get Australia to a competitive score. He then followed it up with another century in the second. Whether you believe he is the best batsman since Bradman or not, the man should be praised for his hunger for runs. After all, England fans appreciated it too, rating his performance a 10. What a return to Test Cricket. 10
Travis Head: One of Australia’s solid performers. He was under pressure twice and both times he combined with Smith for crucial runs. The key for Head will be to build on his starts. 7
Matthew Wade: This man knocked the door down with sheer weight of runs across formats domestically and for Australia A. He was rewarded with a Test recall ahead of another bowling option, and scored an excellent second-innings century. One area England will look at is how his head can fall far to the offside, but Wade has stamped his claim early. 8
Tim Paine: Skipper Paine scoffed at the thought of Edgbaston being the most intimidating ground in the world. It was vindicated. But not before a first innings dismissal that Jason Roy would have been proud of. Some second innings runs, good catches and led the team well. 6
Pat Cummins: Didn’t start the Test particularly well but finished it brilliantly. Picked up four second innings wickets to go past 100 in Tests. 8
James Pattinson: A very solid return to Test Cricket. Pattinson will be better for the run, particularly given his short ball wasn’t as effective on a slow pitch. 7
Peter Siddle: You must perform well when one of Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc are left out for you. Siddle contributed so well for Australia, starting with his 44 on the first day. Very steady with the ball and could have had more wickets. Surely can’t be left out of the next Test. 7.5
Nathan Lyon: ‘Gaz’. Australia’s most successful off-spinner. He kept it simple, focusing on challenging the England batsmen on a turning pitch. The world’s current-best Test spinner finished with nine wickets and went past 350 in his career. 9
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A comprehensive win in the end from Australia to end the Edgbaston hoodoo. But, if we cast our minds back to 2015, results swung significantly with no close game.
England will make changes. They will be out to prove a point at Lord’s, and will be difficult to beat especially if they win the toss. The challenge has been set.
Thanks for reading!
