Even allowing for a nervous day five run-chase in Sydney, Australia’s dominance of the Ashes was emphatic. Here’s how every player on both sides rated throughout the series – from the stars and standouts to the tourists heading home with doubts over their immediate cricketing futures.
AUSTRALIA
Jake Weatherald
(201 runs at 22.33)
The jury is still out on the Test newcomer, whose modest numbers don’t reflect the contribution he made to Australia’s series victory. Strong in Perth and Brisbane when given room to cut and drive, the opener’s set-up leaves him vulnerable to being trapped in front. England figured him out, dismissing him lbw four times in 10 innings. It won’t have gone unnoticed in South Africa, assuming he gets picked. 4.5/10
Travis Head
(629 runs at 62.90)
In a series dominated by the bowlers, world cricket’s best big-game player became just the eighth Australian to score 600 or more runs in an Ashes series, joining greats such as Don Bradman, Steve Smith and Greg Chappell. A revelation in his new role as opener, Head has transformed Australia’s top order with his dynamic strokeplay. His runs had a major impact – from the series-turning century in Perth to the series-winning ton in Adelaide. Get the popcorn ready for his duel with Kagiso Rabada later this year. 9.5
Marnus Labuschagne
(259 runs at 28.77)
Not the series Australia’s No.3 would have hoped for after being recalled, though he played important hands in the hosts going up 2-0. Labuschagne was at his best when he looked to score rather than defend, only to fall back to his old ways in Adelaide and Melbourne. Has now gone 40 innings without a century. His catching was exceptional. Much of what Australia wants to achieve overseas in the next 18 months depends on Labuschagne getting back to the form of 2019-22. 5.5
Steve Smith
(286 runs at 57.20)
Despite an average of 57.2 with the bat, Smith’s most influential contribution was his leadership and catching, particularly at slip, with a series-leading 14 grabs.
Deputising as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, Smith remained calm and patient with his tactics, backed up by top-class bowling. Often batted when conditions were toughest and missed out on the batting paradise when a late out in Adelaide with vertigo so he deserved the chance to make hay in the final game. Still one of the best batters in the world.
Rollercoaster final series for the veteran, who was picked to open yet played all his innings lower down the order. His career appeared over after a back injury in Perth, only to be saved by Smith’s illness. Once he got going in Adelaide, he looked like the Khawaja of old, doing enough to earn the right to bow out on his own terms. The timing feels right, though his play against spin will be missed in India next year. 5
Alex Carey
(323 runs at 46.14, 28 catches, 1 stumping)
Career-best series for the South Australian, who is now clearly the best Test wicketkeeper in the world. His ability to make the difficult look regulation is a nod to his technical expertise. His glove work standing up to the stumps was important in taming England’s Bazballers, preventing them from walking down the track and scrambling the lengths of Australia’s seamers. His batting was top class, often bailing his team out of trouble. Will need to work on the flick off his pads after being caught at leg slip three times late in the series. 9.5
Cameron Green
(171 runs at 24.42, 4 wickets at 70.75)
After 37 Tests, Green’s apprenticeship is over, but he finds himself fighting for his place in the XI. The allrounder looked comfortable in most of his innings, only to repeatedly squander opportunities for big scores with brain fades. His list of dismissals include being bowled backing away expecting a bouncer, running himself out, a clip to mid-wicket and holing out to a pull shot. Getting through the end of a nervy run chase will boost his confidence after a trying Sydney Test. Capable of so much more. 3.5
Beau Webster
(71 runs at no average, 3 wickets at 28.00)
Given Green’s troubles and his excellent form last year, the Tasmanian was unlucky not to play more. Made an unbeaten 71 to keep the pressure on the younger, more talented but lesser-performed all-rounder. Deserves to go to South Africa. Hard to rate his series, but gets a nine for this game.
Michael Neser
(15 wickets at 19.93)
Michael Neser proved himself a caught-and-bowled specialist this summer.Credit: Getty Images
After years on the fringe, the Queenslander did not waste his chance when it finally came. A shock selection in Brisbane ahead of Nathan Lyon, Neser rewarded selectors with a maiden five-for, then had a Boxing Day to remember by top-scoring and claiming four wickets. His Test future hinges on the availability of others, but nobody can take away from him the summer he helped Australia win the Ashes. 7.5
Mitchell Starc
(31 wickets at 19.93, 156 runs at 26.00)
With Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins injured, Australia needed something special from Starc – and he over-delivered. Starc has, at times, been reluctant to be the spearhead of the attack, but he led the charge against the Bazballers, often setting the tone with a wicket in the first over of the innings. He was instrumental in Australia winning the series in 11 days, carrying the team with the ball and the bat. Passed Wasim Akram for the most wickets by a left-arm quick. A deserved Compton-Miller Medal winner after a stellar series. 9.5
Scott Boland
(20 wickets at 24.95)
After a torrid Ashes campaign in 2023, the Victorian slayed his Bazball demons with a near faultless performance. Often coming off the bench during previous series, Boland was needed from the start, and did not let down his captain in both defensive and offensive capacities. His spell after lunch on the second and final day in Perth was one of the pivotal passages of play this series. A high proportion of his wickets were top-seven batters. 9
Pat Cummins
(6 wickets at 19.50)
Play one Test, take six wickets at less than 20 apiece on a batting-friendly pitch, win the Ashes, then sign off. Like many of their plans, Australia’s calculated risk to get Cummins back on the field paid off. The captain maintained his stranglehold on Joe Root, dismissing him in each innings in Adelaide. Difficult to rate off one game, but we give him 8.5 for his work in Adelaide.
Brendan Doggett
(7 wickets at 30.71)
The paceman looked like he belonged on debut, but struggled with the pink ball when given the unsuitable role of bowling short stuff. Should derive plenty of benefit from being around the Test squad. 5
Josh Inglis’ runout of Stokes will not be forgotten anytime soon.Credit: Getty Images
Josh Inglis
(65 runs at 21.66)
Played in the Test with the best batting surface but wasted gilt-edged opportunities to lock down a middle-order berth. Khawaja’s retirement leaves an opening in the top seven. Made an impact in the field with a stunning direct hit run-out at the Gabba. 4
Nathan Lyon
(5 wickets at 31.40)
The man they call the GOAT showed his worth in the only match where he had a meaningful role to play, taking five wickets as Australia won the series in the third Test. Lyon’s career is now at a crucial juncture. The combination of his age (38), two major soft tissue injuries since 2023 and the default setting of seam-friendly pitches in Australia all stand in the way of Lyon adding many more to his tally of 141 Tests. 6
Jhye Richardson
(2 wickets at 15.00)
After four years out of the team, Richardson belatedly returned to the Test scene in Melbourne, taking two wickets. Though he showed glimpses of his best, his lack of match practice was evident in the number of times he overstepped the popping crease. We won’t rate him off just the one Test.
ENGLAND
Ben Duckett
(202 runs at 20.20)
Ben Duckett: As underwhelming with the bat as he was in the field.Credit: Getty Images
No player has disappointed more this series than the England opener. A class batter, Duckett was brutally exposed by the seam-friendly pitches. He can get away with not leaving the ball on tailor-made flat tracks at home, but the extra bounce in Australia brought him undone, resulting in him being caught behind the wicket four times. Reached 20 in six of his 10 innings without posting a half-century. Dropped several simple chances in the field. He’ll be happy to land back at Heathrow. 2
Zak Crawley
(273 runs at 27.30)
The dashing opener was one of the few England batters who combined his freewheeling style with discretion when needed. After a pair in Perth, Crawley tightened up his game and was rewarded with strong scores in Brisbane and Adelaide. For all that, he finishes with an average under 30. Only has a one-year central contract, but at the age of 27, Crawley is worth persisting with. Has the ability to become a fine Test player. 6
Jacob Bethell
(205 runs at 51.25)
The find of the tour for England, who look to have uncovered a long-term No.3 batter. England selectors were slammed for throwing the 22-year-old to the wolves, but their faith was vindicated in Sydney when he became just the 47th player to make his maiden first-class hundred in a Test. After a streaky 40 in the successful run chase in Melbourne, this knock was full of character, coming with his team well behind in the game. 7
Joe Root
(400 runs at 44.44)
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The England great ticked off two firsts – an Ashes century and a Test victory in Australia. But winning the urn on these shores remains elusive. At a glance, Root had a strong series, but besides his two tons, he failed to reach 50. Could not resist the urge to spar outside off stump, leading to five of nine dismissals caught behind the wicket. England needed more from Root, but he was not the reason for their defeat. His teammates should have done better. 7.5
Harry Brook
(358 runs at 39.77)
Does England’s next star want to be a Flash Harry or a great of the game? If he’s content with the former, then he should carry on as is, and England will continue to get flighty 30s, 40s and 50s instead of the hundreds that set up victories. His booming drives in Perth and Brisbane, and reverse sweep brain snap in Adelaide, summed up Bazball without brains. It was tempered later in the series but not eradicated. Threw away the chance to be England’s hero. 6.5
Ben Stokes
(184 runs at 18.40, 15 wickets at 25.13)
After a month carrying the burden of his team’s struggles, the captain finally broke on the penultimate day of the series. As wholehearted as ever, Stokes’s solution to a litany of problems was to work harder, and not always smarter. England’s reckless batting? I’ll dig in and bat for time. Their scattergun bowling? I’ll bowl the donkey overs with the old ball. Lacked imagination with his tactics, though he wasn’t helped by ordinary bowling. Struggled with the bat but was England’s most consistent bowler. 6
Jamie Smith
(211 runs at 23.44, 15 catches)
The not-so proud owner of some of the worst dismissals you’ll see from someone in whites. Clearly has talent with the bat; clearly needs a firm hand to channel it. Sixty on the last day in Adelaide was Smith at his match-turning best.
An all-too familiar scene for Jamie Smith this series.Credit: Getty Images
The way he tossed away his wicket was his worst until managing to plumb lower in Sydney with a bone-headed swipe off Marnus Labuschagne’s bowling. Hardly impressed with the gloves either, dropping a sitter from Travis Head in Brisbane. The most he can take from this tour is some harsh lessons. 2.5
Will Jacks
(145 runs at 20.71, 6 wickets at 53.66)
His selection spoke volumes about the bluff and bluster of England’s approach. Picking a No.8 for their batting is a defensive strategy which indicated how little faith they had in their frontline batters. Apart from his brain explosion in Sydney, he batted resolutely but his off-spin did not cut the mustard and was a major factor in their defeat in Adelaide. Love his fight, but looks to be a spare parts type better suited to the white-ball formats. 3
Brydon Carse
(22 wickets at 30.31)
His series is proof stats can lie. Only Mitchell Starc took more wickets, but nobody with a sound cricket mind would have Carse in a combined Ashes XI. Compared at one point by Mark Waugh to a third-grader, Carse’s inaccuracy gave his captain no control of the game. Went downhill once Australia decided, after the first innings in Perth, to attack him. Competes hard and plays with indomitable spirit, which explains why he kept getting picked. 6
Josh Tongue
(18 wickets at 20.11)
Josh Tongue was one of few Englishman to enhance his reputation.Credit: Getty Images
England’s best bowler from just three Tests, Tongue bowled a straighter, more consistent line than any other tourist and profited accordingly. Along with Stokes, Tongue was the Englishman toiling most effectively when the chips were down in Sydney and Adelaide, while his seven wickets earned him deserved man-of-the-match honours at the MCG. Had only played six Tests before this tour, but should now be entrenched in England’s attack. 7
Matthew Potts
(No wickets)
No series rating for one Test. Gets a zero for this game – 0-141 off 25 overs in the first innings in Sydney, and Ben Stokes’ reluctance to go to him in the second says it all.
Jofra Archer
(9 wickets at 27.11, 102 runs at 25.50)
A prime example of England’s flawed planning and preparation. Archer has hardly played longer-form cricket since 2019 due to injury, so it was no surprise he failed to see out the series. The speed demon was England’s most threatening fast bowler until he broke down during the Adelaide Test, but lacked the stamina to maintain his pace in later spells and back up on consecutive days. His duel with Steve Smith in Brisbane was thrilling. 5.5
Gus Atkinson
(6 wickets at 47.33)
Arrived with big expectations but largely underdelivered. Started with a fine spell in Perth and repeated it with the new ball in Melbourne, but lost the plot in Brisbane, bowling far too short, and finished among the Ashes casualties. Just as Carse’s wicket tally flattered his campaign, Atkinson probably deserved a few more, while he did make some handy runs down the order as well. 4
Ollie Pope
(125 runs at 20.83)
A thoroughly miserable tour that puts his Test career in serious jeopardy, given the way Bethell performed in his stead. Actually looked the most capable of England’s batsmen in Perth with 46 and 33 in a low-scoring contest, but fell off a cliff from there. His dismissals in Brisbane and Adelaide stacked up what has been apparent for some time – Pope does not have the technique or temperament to hold down the No.3 role. 1
Mark Wood
(No wickets)
Exhibit Z in England’s poor planning. They banked on the express pace of an injury-prone 35-year-old fast bowler and got one Test out of him before he was – drum roll – injured. No series rating for one Test. We gave him three in Perth.
