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Ashes 2019: England v Australia 5th Test Player Ratings. ENG vs AUS 5th Test Player Ratings

This Ashes series, before underway, was billed as the battle of the flawed. Fast forward six weeks, and you could see why. 2-2 could have been 3-2 to England. 2-2 could have even been 4-0 to Australia.

But, from an Australian perspective, 2-2 should have been 3-1 to Australia. In the end, Tim Paine’s side achieved what they came to achieve: retain the Ashes. However, the series leaves a bit of an empty feeling among Australia fans, given that the best Test batsman and bowler are within their ranks. Worse, they both produced superhuman efforts (774 runs and 29 wickets respectively), only to walk away with a drawn series.

For England, the win at The Oval was a fitting end to one hell of a summer. Their World Cup win will be etched in the memory of all associated with it. However, like Australia, England have plenty of adjustments to make, with the number one priority being transferring seamlessly from the white-ball to Test format. Their dominant win at The Oval in the final Ashes Test needs to be a springboard for better things in the coming months.

In this article, let’s take a look at each player in the final Ashes Test and rate them out of 10.

Also read: Check out how my 5 Ashes Predictions turned out

England

Rory Burns: Burns is a player that has enhanced his reputation in this series. The survivor of an opening pair that looked very shaky before the series, Burns’ 390 runs at 39.00 is by far and away the best by any opener this series. Two unconverted starts in this Test with Australia for the taking would have been frustrating, though. However, his fielding in the cordon is something special. 6.5

Rory Burns has faced more deliveries this series (848) than Alastair Cook ever did in a home series (most balls faced – 839).#Ashes pic.twitter.com/8AIyOxwlGI

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 12, 2019

Joe Denly: Dropped by Marcus Harris (who will likely face the same fate from Australian selectors), Denly made Australia pay for that costly miss. Just missed out on his first Test ton, but you’d think he has done enough for England to persist with him. 8

Joe Root: Root must have thought Christmas had come early. Sent in on arguably the best batting pitch England, Root was dropped three times before reaching 35. That’s where he should really punish Australia. He didn’t. Starts yet again. 6.5

Ben Stokes: Joe Root’s right-hand man in the slip cordon. His second innings stand of 127 with Joe Denly took the game away from Australia. Another second innings century was beckoning before getting castled by a dream Nathan Lyon delivery. 7

Jonny Bairstow: Spot hanging by a thread? One of England’s most solid Test bats four years ago, Bairstow’s Test game has fallen victim to his rise in the ODI format. He is a sitting duck against the moving ball, even though he was done in by a superb piece of bowling by Marsh in the first innings. 4

Jos Buttler: A very solid finish to the series: 192 runs in his final four innings, with 117 in this Test. The runs he scored on the first evening were crucial. He ended with 70, and England then took a lead of 69. 8

Sam Curran: You have to scratch your head and wonder why Curran only played one Test in this series. India fans know full well of Curran’s ability with bat and ball in home conditions. Indeed, his swing bowling in the first innings was something to behold. 7

Chris Woakes: More was expected of Chris Woakes right throughout the series. However, he can proudly gloat about getting Steve Smith to miss one on his pads. 4

Jofra Archer: A superb end to a superb debut Test series. Tore Australia apart with six wickets, before bowling a great spell to Matt Wade in the second dig. Finished third in the wickets column behind Pat Cummins and Stuart Broad, who were both brilliant across all five Tests. 8.5

Jack Leach: Frustrated Australia with late-order resistance again, to go with wickets with the ball. His wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Tim Paine would have been especially pleasing. 7.5

Stuart Broad: It would be a shock if Broad doesn’t have a picture of David Warner on his bedside table yet. Strong end to a strong series, finishing with 23 wickets. Seven of them were Warner. 8

Also read: Check out how my 5 Ashes Predictions turned out

Australia

David Warner: Warner can tell his grandkids he broke world records in England in 2019. He doesn’t have to tell them it’s the most single digit scores by any player in a single Test series in history (eight). 1

David Warner is the lowest scoring opening batsman to bat in every innings of a 5 match series.

In history.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/axDRyCIy4I

— Coral (@Coral) September 15, 2019

Marcus Harris: Joe Burns must still be wondering how he missed out on selection. Usman Khawaja will be wondering why it was he who was dropped. 1

Marnus Labuschagne: No fifty this time but a significant positive for Australia in this series. His spot is locked in for the start of the Australian summer. 6

Steve Smith: Walked off to a standing ovation after finally getting dismissed for a sub-50 score this series. Australia’s insatiable run-scoring machine was again left to keep Australia in the contest. If you have a single player score 774 runs and the team still doesn’t win the series, other batsmen in the side need to have a long look at themselves. Also, we have to mention that incredible catch. 7.5

Matthew Wade: A really brilliant second innings century. Wade’s spot was in question after a lack of runs since the first Test, but the way he played Jack Leach and withstood Jofra Archer was a significant positive for Australia in this match. Unfortunately, the lack of runs elsewhere was costly. That’s what Steve Smith goes through. 8.5

Mitchell Marsh: “Most of Australia hate me”, said Marsh after day one. Hate is too strong of a word. He needs to take his opportunities better, particularly with the bat. He is fine fifth bowling option, as his great five-for showed. But, he needs runs. 7.5

Tim Paine: It is only fitting that Tim Paine’s series ended with an unsuccessful review. Indeed, he might like to review his decisions in this Test. He won the toss and sent England in on one of the best batting tracks in the country. This is after a very short turnaround after the fourth Test. And with Peter Siddle in the side over Mitchell Starc. Paine deserved praise at Old Trafford, but like Headingley, mistakes were made. A series win down the drain. 3

Pat Cummins: Ran in and bowled his heart out with little support from his fielders. To finish with 29 wickets without a five-wicket haul is both cruel and amazing at the same time. 7

Josh Hazlewood: Threatened on occasions but didn’t have the impact he did in previous Tests. 5

Peter Siddle: Siddle will run and try his best all day. However, to pick him over Mitchell Starc with Mitch Marsh in the team was not the right call. Worse, with his job to stop the scoring, Siddle went for nearly four an over across the two innings. Add a dropped catch on the first day. 3

Nathan Lyon: Some absolutely superb bowling in the second dig. It really was an exhibition at times from Lyon, who finished the series as he started – in the wickets. 7

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So, Australia retain the Ashes, but it was a disappointing end to the series against an England side that, to their credit, remained in the fight.

Australia’s next Test assignment is Pakistan in November. England have a tough test in New Zealand in the same month. Will there be changes for both teams? We’ll see.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Check out how my 5 Ashes Predictions turned out

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!

Here’s what it means. How good is this reaction?! #Ashes #Ashes19 pic.twitter.com/E7i6GTdVuC

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) September 8, 2019

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

Name: Joe Root
Age: 28
Occupation: Figuring out how to get Steve Smith out#ENGvAUS #Ashes #Ashes19 pic.twitter.com/tCWm9yoqcp

— CricBlog (@cric_blog) September 5, 2019

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

? #Ashes19 pic.twitter.com/0WO7FIbuXH

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) September 8, 2019

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

"CHOMPERS, YOU BEAUUUUUTY!"

TJ gets ambushed by the Aussies live on the @TheTodayShow after their #Ashes triumph ??#9WWOS pic.twitter.com/xhjEUptHGc

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) September 8, 2019

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

Every local cricket team has a bloke like it. You know the one. Doesn’t bowl, doesn’t bat, just stands in close and spends the entire innings sledging and roaring at his own shit jokes.

Matthew Wade is that bloke.

— James Sharpe (@TheSharpeEnd) September 7, 2019

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

Pat Cummins can run in and bowl all day after experiencing this 2 years ago!!#ENGvAUS #Ashes #Ashes19 pic.twitter.com/opc63CKiZl

— CricBlog (@cric_blog) September 8, 2019

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

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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!