Who needs runs and who’s in a different class? Player ratings from the third Test

The third Test in Brisbane was heavily affected by rain and ended in a draw on the fifth day. Here’s how players from both teams rated.

Australia

Usman Khawaja – Soaked up 54 balls for a return of 21 runs in the first innings. It was Khawaja’s highest score of the series. Got cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah in the second innings for eight. An unhappy 38th birthday. Said before the Test he wants to play at next year’s Ashes – might not be his call. 3/10

Usman Khawaja is dismissed at the Gabba.Credit: Getty Images

Nathan McSweeney – Would have been pleased to get though 49 balls in testing conditions, but runs are the only currency that really matters. McSweeney’s scores of nine and four bring his Test tally to 72 runs at 14.4. 2/10

Marnus Labuschagne – Out for 12 caught in the slips in the first innings, and then caught behind for one in the second. Would have been annoyed to not back up his impressive knock of 64 in Adelaide. Has made two scores over 12 in his past 13 Test innings. 2/10

Steve Smith – Certainly wasn’t Smith’s prettiest hundred, but a terrific knock nonetheless. Hadn’t reached triple figures in his previous 24 innings. Found his groove and brought back the shuffle to off-side we have seen so often. Faced plenty of scrutiny in the lead-up and answered the critics, despite making just four in the second innings. His dropped catch of KL Rahul was costly. 7.5/10

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. Smith scored an important century.Credit: Getty Images

Travis Head – In a different class at the moment. Backed up his Adelaide hundred with 152 at the Gabba, coming in with Australia at 3-75. Provided perfect support to Smith. Another great century celebration. Made 17 in the second innings at No.5 – more than Australia’s top four combined. 8/10

Mitch Marsh – Made a total of seven runs and took 0-6 from two overs. Highlights of the Test were his two catches early in India’s first innings. One at gully was a screamer, even if Marsh joked later he might have made it look a bit better than it was by diving. Needs runs. Averaging 13.8 in the series. 1.5/10

Alex Carey – The gloveman’s polished knock of 70 from 88 balls took his series tally to 142 runs at 35.5. Only Head has more runs for Australia. Pouched a nice catch diving to his right to remove Mohammed Siraj on day four before a sharp stumping ended India’s innings. Chipped in with 20 not out on day five when wickets were tumbling. 8/10

Pat Cummins – A four-wicket haul took Cummins’ career tally at the Gabba to 44 wickets at 18. After a quieter Test in Perth, he’s back to his reliable self. Remains the key fast bowler Australia need fit for the final two Tests of the series. Some argued Australia should have declared sooner but that’s a matter of opinion. It didn’t matter in the end. 7.5/10

Pat Cummins leads his team off at stumps on day four.Credit: Getty Images

Mitchell Starc – Clubbed 18 with the bat before striking twice in his first seven deliveries, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) and Shubman Gill (1). Returned figures of 3-83 in another impressive match. Equal leading wicket-taker for Australia in the series, with 14 wickets at 23. 7/10

Nathan Lyon – There was a point in this match where Lyon had bowled just one over in the previous 22 days. He was utilised far more in Brisbane, taking 1-55 from 23 overs. Had the best economy rate of the bowlers, excluding Head, and showed great control. His two runs off 30 balls was a little perplexing given many thought Australia would up the scoring rate. 5/10

Josh Hazlewood – Bowled five overs in India’s innings before reporting calf soreness in warm-ups on day four. Came on the field late, bowled one over at a slower pace, before going off at drinks. Has been effectively ruled out for the rest of the series. N/A

India

Jasprit Bumrah – Is continuing to torment Australia’s top order amid a series that is shaping as one of the best by a touring pace bowler in this country. Put the Australians under pressure on day two and then cut a fresh swath on the final afternoon to bring his series tally to 21 wickets at a measly 10.9 each. 9/10

Jasprit Bumrah has had a brilliant tour so far.Credit: Getty Images

KL Rahul – Though fortunate to be dropped by Smith, played the most substantial innings of India’s first innings to carry on a very solid series. Has earned the praise of Cheteshwar Pujara for the way he has played, looking to absorb the new ball and then try to score once set. 8/10

Ravindra Jadeja – Did not offer much with the ball but played sensibly for 77 vital runs that helped give the tourists a chance to avoid the follow-on. May have to rethink his bowling approach in Australia, for the hosts had few problems with his flat, quick arc here. 6/10

Akash Deep – Bowled wholeheartedly in both innings and delivered a vital innings at No.11 that ensured India would not be forced to follow on. In the context of the match and the series, Deep’s composed batting display opposite Bumrah may come to be seen as a turning point. 6/10

Akash Deep (right) helped India avoid the follow-on.Credit: Getty Images

Mohammed Siraj – Subjected to plenty of booing by the Gabba crowd, and guilty of at least one more “celebrappeal”, Siraj bowled too short in the first innings. He was better in the second, but will need to find a better length and line in Melbourne. 5/10

Rishabh Pant – Nine catches in Australia’s two innings but an otherwise quiet match for the wicketkeeper, with his batting subdued in between rain showers before he edged a good one from Cummins. 5/10

Nitish Kumar Reddy – A couple more handy contributions with the ball and the bat without providing anything dominant. Reddy is proving himself to be a cricketer of note. 5/10

Yashasvi Jaiswal – Gave India’s first innings a poor start by clumping Starc out midwicket second ball, before a brief stay in the truncated second innings. Still feels as though he will make more runs at some stage of the series. 3/10

Rohit Sharma– Sent Australia in and watched Head take the game away from India, before adding another low score to his series ledger. Was buoyed by how India ended the game, but that had little to do with Rohit. 2/10

Virat Kohli – Beaten outside off stump yet again in a pattern that the Australians are well and truly on top of. Was animated at times in the field, offering advice to Bumrah and others. May benefit from Hazlewood’s absence from the rest of the series. 2/10

Shubman Gill – Will shake his head for a while at the wide one he threw his hands at to offer a catch to Marsh in the gully. 1/10

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