Two perfect 10s stun in Ashes triumph as unlikely hero emerges — Player Ratings

Australia has won the Ashes series 4-1 after defeating England by five wickets in the fifth and final Test at the SCG.

Chasing an awkward 160-run target for victory, Australia got the job done despite a tense collapse of 5-59, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey and all-rounder Cameron Green holding their nerve to knock off the remainder of the deficit.

Ben Stokes’ England return home empty-handed, while Australia retains the coveted urn for a fifth-consecutive series, a streak dating back to 2017/18.

JAKE WEATHERALD – 3

201 runs at 22.33, HS 72

A maiden Test fifty in Brisbane was the lone highlight for Weatherald this summer, who endured a challenging introduction to international cricket.

England’s seamers expertly exploited an apparent flash to full deliveries at the stumps, with the Tasmanian dismissed LBW on four occasions across the series.

He’ll need Sheffield Shield runs to retain his spot for Australia’s next Test assignment.

TRAVIS HEAD – 10

629 runs at 62.90, HS 170

Elevated to opener during the series opener in Perth, Head’s promotion proved a masterstroke, with the South Australian cracking three hundreds in a career-best summer.

England’s inexperienced bowling attack had no answers for the swashbuckling left-hander, who feasted on their short-pitched bowling. His 69-ball century during the series opener was a knock for the ages, while only two Australians have accumulated more runs in a home Ashes campaign – Steve Smith and Sir Donald Bradman.

MORE FROM THE ASHES

Bye bye, Bazball: Aussies survive nervy chase as ‘worst side in 15 yrs’ seals Ashes drubbing

How Ashes made mockery of biggest Aussie fear; ‘staggering’ truth Stokes won’t live down

The SIX Poms that failed this Ashes… and acts that can’t be ignored: England Ratings

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 4

259 runs at 28.77, HS 65

Recalled for the Ashes opener courtesy of his scintillating domestic form, Labuschgane got his summer off to a promising start with fifties in Perth and Brisbane.

However, the Queenslander struggled towards the back-end of the series, prompting some lingering speculation about his future at first drop in the Test side.

He also snared a couple of stunning one-handed slips catches in Adelaide.

STEVE SMITH – 8

286 runs at 57.20, HS 138

In the absence of skipper Pat Cummins, interim captain Steve Smith masterminded another Ashes triumph for the Australians.

The 36-year-old, who missed the Adelaide match due to vertigo, cemented his status as an Ashes legend with a stylish century during the New Year’s Test in Sydney, continuing his impeccable record against England in Tests.

Only one cricketer has more Ashes runs or centuries than the New South Welshman, Sir Donald Bradman, while he didn’t drop a chance the entire summer.

USMAN KHAWAJA – 4

176 runs at 25.14, HS 82

Khawaja’s summer got off to a dreadful start, suffering back spams during the series opener in Perth to jeopardise the Australian top-order in a low-scoring affair.

However, the Queenslander redeemed himself following an eleventh-hour call-up for the Adelaide Test, notching runs in both innings to help Australia retain the coveted urn.

There was no fairytale finish at the SCG, however, posting scores of 17 and 6 in his final Test match.

CAMERON GREEN – 2

162 runs at 23.14, HS 45

Four wickets at 70.75

Green’s Test future is in jeopardy after an underwhelming Ashes campaign with bat and ball, failing to muster a half-century across the five-match series.

Despite some impressive bursts with the ball, he leaked plenty of runs throughout the summer, while his reckless dismissal during the pink-ball Test in Brisbane was nothing short of woeful.

The West Australian, who also dropped a simple chance at the SCG, navigated the team towards an awkward target in Sydney, but Beau Webster may have usurped him as Australia’s first-choice Test all-rounder.

ALEX CAREY – 9

318 runs at 45.42, HS 106

27 catches, one stumping

Carey comfortably won the battle of the wicketkeepers this summer.

His glovework during the pink-ball contest in Brisbane was phenomenal, including a diving catch in the outfield, while he thumped his third Test hundred in front of a home crowd in Adelaide. He was one dismissal away from equalling the all-time wicketkeeper record in a Test series, Brad Haddin’s 29 during the 2013 Ashes.

A dip in form with the bat towards the back-end of the series was the only thing denying him a perfect ten, bizarrely caught at leg slip in three consecutive matches.

JOSH INGLIS – 3

65 runs at 21.66, HS 32

Picked for the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests as a specialist batter, Inglis made a start in all three innings but failed to convert any of them into substantial scores, dropped ahead of the Boxing Day clash.

However, his run-out of England captain Ben Stokes at the Gabba was a series highlight.

BEAU WEBSTER – 8

71 runs at N/A, HS 71*

Three wickets at 28.00, BB 3-64

Sidelined for the first four Ashes Tests, Webster showed the national selectors what they were missing with an all-round masterclass during the series finale in Sydney.

Batting at No. 9, the Tasmanian cracked an unbeaten half-century before ripping through England’s middle order in the second innings in a match-winning spell with his part-time offies

MICHAEL NESER – 9

15 wickets at 19.93, BB 5-42

Twelve months ago, Neser thought his Test career was over.

But courtesy of a trio of injury setbacks for Australia’s pace attack, the Queensland veteran earned an unexpected national recall, taking a five-wicket haul with the pink Kookaburra at the Gabba.

The unlikely hero proved he wasn’t a one-trick pony with a pair of four-wicket hauls in Melbourne and Sydney, while he top-scored with the bat during the first innings of the low-scoring Boxing Day clash.

MITCHELL STARC – 10

31 wickets at 19.93, BB 7-58

A perfect summer for Starc. No notes.

As the leader of Australia’s attack, the tall left-armer terrorised England’s top-order across the five-Test campaign, snaring a wicket in the first over of an innings on four occasions.

He claimed career-best figures during the series opener in Perth before pressing his case for all-rounder status with fifties in Brisbane and Adelaide.

A deserved player of the series.

PAT CUMMINS – 7

Six wickets at 19.50, BB3-48

Cummins’ back injury was branded as disastrous for Australia’s chances ahead of the Ashes, but the reserve quicks have performed commendably in his absence.

The wounded captain returned for a burst during the Adelaide Test, taking three crucial wickets in each innings for help Australia retain the coveted urn.

JHYE RICHARDSON – 6

Two wickets at 15.00, BB 2-22

After more than four years in the casualty ward, Richardson made his long-awaited Test return during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which ended up being a frantic two-day shootout.

Fingers crossed the West Australian can maintain his fitness through to next summer, when no doubt he’ll get more opportunities in the national side.

NATHAN LYON – 6

Five wickets at 31.40, BB 3-77

Once again muzzled by Australia’s pace-friendly decks, Lyon was hardly required for this summer’s Ashes campaign, missing the second half of the series due to a hamstring injury.

The veteran tweaker bowled two wicketless overs during the series opener in Perth, but ripped through England’s top order in an impressive spell at Adelaide Oval, including a peach to topple England opener Ben Duckett.

SCOTT BOLAND – 9

20 wickets at 24.95, BB 4-33

His opening spell in Perth was woeful, but Boland hardly put a foot wrong for the remainder of the series.

Having been previously used in Tests as an injury replacement for the ‘big three’, the Victorian seamer stepped up in the absence of Josh Hazlewood, making vital contributions in all five matches. The Bazballers only managed 3.12 runs per over against him across the summer.

He also struck a career-best 21 not out during the Brisbane Test.

BRENDAN DOGGETT – 7

Seven wickets at 30.71, BB 3-51

Deservedly presented his baggy green in Perth, Doggett was tasked the with unfamiliar role of bouncer enforcer during the opening two Tests, dutifully peppering England’s lower order with bumpers. Each of his wickets this summer came from short deliveries.

He was sidelined for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in favour of veteran seamer Michael Neser and the returning Jhye Richardson.