Ashes first Test player ratings: Who starred and who flopped for Australia and England
England were humiliated by the Aussies in the first Ashes Test - and one star player was lucky to avoid a zero out of ten. Australia and England ratings here!
Australia has humiliated England in the first Ashes Test with debutant captain Pat Cummins and comeback kid Travis Head starring - but question marks hang over two players.
We rate every player from Australia and England. Did we get it right? Have your say in the comments below.
AUSTRALIA PLAYER RATINGS
DAVID WARNER
Must be in doubt for the second Test after failing to bat in the second dig due to bruised ribs.
Rode his luck to get to 94 in the first innings after being handed three lives, including when he was bowled off a no ball by Ben Stokes when on just 17 but unlucky in the end not to bring up a 25th Test ton.
Rating: 8
MARCUS HARRIS
Gets a couple of points only because the wicket ball from Robinson was a peach. But he’d played and missed three times previously and never looked comfortable at the crease. Hit the match-winning runs and will get another chance in Adelaide but under pressure to perform with Usman Khawaja waiting in the wings.
Rating: 2
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE
His 74 was almost chanceless before he attempted to feast on hapless spinner Jack Leach once too often and was surprised by the extra bounce, knocking the ball straight to point for an easy catch. Furious at himself for the lapse, knowing he left plenty of runs in the middle.
Rating: 7.5
STEVE SMITH
Pushed at a ball outside off stump from quick Mark Wood, falling cheaply in a disappointing innings. His real value this match came in his return to a formal leadership role, providing support to debutant captain Pat Cummins while the quick toiled.
Rating: 4
TRAVIS HEAD
Pretty close to perfection this match for Head in his recall to the Test side. Won a close battle for the No.5 spot but has surely sealed it for the summer with a confident and assured 150 that set up the Aussie win. Came to the crease with the match in a precarious position but put his side back on track.
Rating: 9
CAMERON GREEN
A mixed bag from the young gun, who shouldered arms to a ball from quick Ollie Robinson only to be bowled for a duck. But shone with the ball, snaring the ley wicket of Joe Root for a duck and looking Australia’s most dangerous bowler at times on day three. Earning his stripes.
Rating: 6.5
ALEX CAREY
Efficient behind the stumps both standing up to Lyon and back to the quicks and didn’t miss a trick with the gloves, setting a Test record with eight catches on debut. Missed out with the bat, making just 12 in the first innings and dismissed for nine when opening in place of Warner in the second dig but a strong job overall.
Rating: 7.5
PAT CUMMINS
Dream captaincy debut for the Aussie skipper whose big win was set up by an opening loss - at the toss. Bagged five first-innings wickets on an overcast opening day when he managed captaincy duties and his own bowling load brilliantly. Didn’t lose focus when England briefly threatened to fight back and bit back brilliantly on day four.
Rating: 9
MITCHELL STARC
Wrote himself into Ashes folklore with a first-ball bullet that dismissed the hapless Rory Burns and always looked dangerous in first-innings conditions that suited the quicks. Just one wicket in the second dig and not as economical but getting back to his dangerous best ahead of the pink ball Test.
Rating: 6.5
NATHAN LYON
Few opportunities in the first innings as the seamers gobbled up the England order in overcast and humid conditions. Impatient at times searching for his 400th wicket but on song on day four, picking up 4-22 to underline his status as the Goat.
Rating: 7
JOSH HAZLEWOOD
Just three wickets for the match and only one in the second innings but Hazlewood’s efficiency is just as much as weapon as the wicket ball. Dismissed injury fears with an express spell on Saturday that left the English batters hopping. Under serious injury cloud heading into the second Test.
Rating: 8
ENGLAND PLAYER RATINGS
RORY BURNS
Could have copped a 0 rating, the same score he made in the first innings, but probably deserves a point just for turning up. That’s all he did though, narrowly avoiding a king pair and dropping a sitter catch. Pommy passenger.
Rating: 1
HASEEB HAMEED
Showed a spoonful of flair and fight but nothing that was going to change the course of the game. Deserves some kudos for facing the first ball of second innings when Burns refused to front up.
Rating: 5
DAWID MALAN
Much like he did a few years ago in Australia, looked classy and combative and up for the contest. Learned his trade batting on South African pitches, so conditions Down Under hold no fears for him.
Rating: 7.5
JOE ROOT
Snaffled an Ashes duck in the first dig but was back in business in the second, showing he is a peerless player of spin and adding to his mountain of record-breaking runs this calendar year.
Rating: 7
BEN STOKES
Didn’t fire a shot with either bat or ball and was often seen hobbling in the field, well short of a gallop in his return to Test cricket. England needs their gun allrounder to fire to win Tests and this was an epic misfire.
Rating: 3.5
OLLIE POPE
Provided at least some resistance in England’s troubled first innings but didn’t have a clue about the Gabba track when he batted a second time, undone by Nathan Lyon’s rip and bounce. Looks frantic and rushed batting against spin.
Rating: 5.5
JOS BUTTLER
Has the ticker for a scrap on the pitch and the talent to match but two decent starts with the bat didn’t translate into anything.
Rating: 6
CHRIS WOAKES
Did nothing to disprove his standing as Superman at home and Clark Kent on the road. Tried hard but didn’t take a top-order wicket and is better suited in the Old Dart.
Rating: 5
OLLIE ROBINSON
Tall timber who barely bowled a bad ball and was on a hat-trick at one point. Promising Ashes debut and will be better for the gallop and potentially with a pink ball in hand.
Rating: 7.5
MARK WOOD
Hurried up the Aussies at times with deliveries over 150km/hr and even floored Travis Head with a brutal beamer. His best is good enough to give the Aussies plenty of curry this summer.
Rating: 6.5
JACK LEACH
Notched a Test century – but it was with the ball (1-102 in 13 overs). Controversial selection over Stuart Broad and his bowling was ruthlessly butchered by Aussie batsmen.
Rating: 1
More Coverage
‘Serious talent’: ‘Merv’s little mate’ still going strong
Tim O’Brien stood 151cm when he made his debut for Footscray in District cricket. Twenty-five years later, he’s still rolling out his leggies, as captain of Werribee in the Victorian Sub-District association.
Hero surgeon who saved spinner’s tour stunned by Kuhnemann
The quick-acting surgeon who answered a late-night SOS to save Matt Kuhnemann’s Sri Lankan tour has been amazed by spinner’s “incredible’’ comeback.