Player ratings: Usman Khawaja a clear standout but Labuschagne, Head, Finch make progress

WHILE Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon covered themselves in glory, the same can’t be said for a handful of other Aussie players. Full series ratings here

Shaun Marsh just couldn’t get anything going in the UAE. Picture: AP.

AUSTRALIA’S horror record in Asia has continued, with a 374-run defeat in Abu Dhabi consigning them to another series defeat.

HUMBLING: Aussies fall to huge loss

CRASH: No excuses for technically deficient Aussies

Australia hasn’t tasted success in Asia since downing Sri Lanka in 2011 - and the 1-0 defeat to Pakistan is their sixth series on earth’s largest continent since then.

It could’ve been worse, had it not been for a stirring draw in Dubai where Usman Khawaja proved himself to be the man to step up in the absence of the suspended Steve Smith and David Warner.

Meanwhile, the Marsh brothers combined for just 44 runs through eight innings in a return to the bad old days when they were the lightning rods for criticism with Australian fans.

But how did everyone else go in this series? We run the rule over the good, the bad and, well, the Marsh’s.

Aaron Finch made a lot of good starts but failed to grasp that big score. Picture: AP.

AARON FINCH - 7.5

181 runs @ 45.25

High score: 62

An excellent debut series from a Shield veteran who looked the part and finished Australia’s second top runscorer. The genuine success story from a tough tour and, after waiting so long for a Baggy Green, he could now follow in the footsteps of fellow late bloomer Mike Hussey and have a decent stint in the Test team. Finch delivered on the Australian selectors bizarre ‘30 or more’ criteria, passing that mark in each of his four innings, and notched a half-century on debut.

USMAN KHAWAJA - 8.5

229 runs @ 76.33

HS: 141

A wonderful breakthrough series for Khawaja, which ended in the cruelest of fashions. The 31-year-old notched his first Test ton in Asia and took on the mantle of the team’s best batsmen with a starring role in the first Test draw in Dubai. After what appeared to be a career-defining knock, Khawaja deserved a slice of luck - instead the cricket Gods have come down hard on the stylish left-hander who could miss the start of the Australian summer after suffering a knee injury in the second Test defeat. It’s a cruel game.

SHAUN MARSH - 1

14 runs @ 3.50

HS: 7

A horrid series for Australia’s makeshift No.3, who finishes with the series with his Test career hanging by a thread - and the pitiful average of 3.5 after four failures. Copped an absolute gem in the second dig, but the numbers don’t lie - he should be under serious pressure to hold onto his spot ahead of the home summer. Marsh has been under pressure in the past and come out the other side, but the heat is well and truly on.

Shaun Marsh just couldn’t get anything going in the UAE. Picture: AP.

TRAVIS HEAD - 6

122 runs @ 30.5

HS: 72

A tough Test cricket initiation for the talented young South Australian, whose dogged half-century in Dubai helped Australia scrap for a fighting draw - and vindicated Justin Langer’s belief that he’s a Test star of the future. Unfortunately, his remaining three innings didn’t deliver the same level of quality - it’s hard to tell whether we know more about him than we’ve already learned in his Shield career. Although in the current climate, it’s probably enough to firm up his spot in the Australian team.

MITCHELL MARSH - 1.5

30 runs @ 7.50

HS: 13

Two wickets @ 49

Best Bowling: 1-21

Like big brother Shaun, Mitch Marsh won’t take many happy memories back to Australia after a poor series - his first since being promoted to vice-captaincy. Marsh didn’t cover himself in glory with a move up the order, notching just 30 runs - including two single figure scores amid collapses. Australia needs more from both its leaders and its middle order. An interesting summer awaits. He can no longer dine out on last year’s breakout Ashes, where he thumped two memorable centuries.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE - 6

81 runs @ 20.25

HS: 43

7 wickets @ 22.42.

BB: 3-45

Held the crown of ‘most bizarre run-out of the series’ for about 20 hours before Azhar Ali incredibly stole it off him, but Labuschagne’s maiden Test series was certainly a memorable one. Disappointed with the bat - with a top score of 43 - but was a surprise find with the ball, and finished with the best average of all Aussie bowlers. Looks better than a part-time leggie, but will need more runs to his name if he’s to be considered as an all-rounder.

Marnus Labuschagne is raw but shows promise. Picture: AFP/

TIM PAINE - 6

71 runs @ 23.66

HS: 61no

Five catches. One stumping.

The toll of a tough two-Test series showed as Paine shouldered arms for a duck on Friday with what Test great Allan Border tagged “a mental error”. But his Dubai heroics - where he produced the innings of his life to bat for nearly four hours for a dogged, unbeaten 61 to save the Test - cannot be forgotten and despite failing to lead Australia to victory in his first Test series in charge, Paine can hold his head high. Typically fantastic behind the stumps.

MITCHELL STARC - 5.5

Four wickets @ 44.25

BB: 2-37

63 runs @ 15.75

HS: 34

Toiled without luck on an unforgiving pitch in the first Test - bowling through cramp in scorching conditions - and then battled a hamstring injury in Abu Dhabi when the deck finally offered a bit more to the quicks. But for all his efforts, Starc’s return of four wickets is not what Australia wants from its pace leader. Will greatly appreciate some rest and recuperation before returning to the bouncy Aussie decks - where he will certainly look a worldbeater once again.

PETER SIDDLE - 5

Three wickets @ 56

BB: 3-58

This series showcased the best and worst of Peter Siddle: a paceman who is absolutely all heart and is a clever, economical quick… but can struggle to crack open a game. Siddle was Australia’s best bowler in the first Test - in shocking conditions for a fast bowler - but came back to earth with a wicketless showing in Abu Dhabi, despite bowling well in both innings. His economy rate of 2.62 was only just shaded by Nathan Lyon’s 2.60. But just three wickets tells its own tale.

Nathan Lyon took 12 wickets in an impressive series. Picture: AP.

NATHAN LYON - 7

12 wickets @ 32.08

BB: 4-78

Australia’s best bowler, and churned through a mountain of work: 147.5 overs, some 70 overs more than Australia’s next most hardworking bowler. What a difference four years makes. After a horror outing last time against Pakistan in the UAE, Lyon looked a far superior bowler and finished as arguably the most accomplished spinner of the series - outbowling Pakistan’s leg-spin wizard Yasir Shah. With 12 wickets, Lyon moved to 318 career scalps - moving past Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to be fourth on Australia’s all-time list. Only a trio of all-time greats Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne lie ahead of him. Helped guide Australia to the stunning Dubai draw with an unbeaten 34-ball five when a late collapse nearly undid all of Usman Khawaja’s fine work.

JON HOLLAND - 3

Four wickets @ 75

BB: 3-83

Not the greatest return following a two-year Test exile. Holland was targeted mercilessly by Pakistan’s batsmen in Dubai, where he went for and went wicketless in Abu Dhabi. His return of four wickets at 75 runs apiece was the most expensive of all Australia’s bowlers and his economy rate of 3.84 was the worst of every bowler except for part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne. Worryingly, he was outbowled by Labuschagne - who took a wicket in each Pakistan innings. At 31, and with a new generation of spinners beginning their push to the next level, you fear this could be the end of Holland in the Test arena.

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Originally published as Player ratings: Usman Khawaja a clear standout but Labuschagne, Head, Finch make progress