Under-fire Bazballer’s critical hand sparks end to gruelling 15-year drought: England Fourth Test Player Ratings

After 19 matches and 16 losses, England has finally won a Test on Australian shores for the first time since January 2011.

They had to do it the hard way on an MCG pitch that left no batter unscathed, but ultimately their second innings blitz with the bat was what saw them avoid the dreaded whitewash.

Foxsports.com.au rates every English player from the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in Melbourne.

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ZAK CRAWLEY — 5

5 and 37

Got a good pill in the first dig from Mitchell Starc that found its way to second slip. Hit a crisp six back over the head of Michael Neser early on in England’s second innings chase of 175, before launching into a smashing cover drive for four more. Crawley has once again proven himself a very handy player in Australian conditions, resurrecting himself notably since his pair in Perth. Was trapped leg before for 37 by Scott Boland, but the damage was already done at the time of his dismissal.

BEN DUCKETT — 5

2 and 34

Where to next for the under-fire opener? Came into the marquee fixture under an unfortunate amount of scrutiny, which no doubt only made his job harder than it already is. Out to a leading edge in the first innings in a tough watch, surviving just five balls. Was given half a life in the third over of the second dig, with Starc failing to grasp a tough caught and bowled chance off another leading edge. Looked real shaky early against the left-armer, but found his groove against Michael Neser from the other end with a number of boundaries. Starc eventually saw his back, yorking him for 31, but the left-hander found a way to scrap out runs against the tide, and that brought up his rating notably in a critical innings.

JACOB BETHELL — 6

1 and 40

Take this rating with an absolute grain of salt. To say he was sold down the river by England selectors is putting it lightly, given he was tasked with batting first drop despite zero first-class hundreds. Got a very good ball from Michael Neser too that caught the edge through to Alex Carey. Came in at number four for the second dig and impressed with a beautiful on-drive off the bowling of Scott Boland early. A reverse ramp first rock after the tea break widened the eye of fans, before a beautiful cover drive for four next ball settled the nerves of the English. There will still be question marks hanging over his head in Sydney heading into more conventional conditions, but he did his reputation no harm with his swashbuckling 40 before hitting one straight to cover. Also fielded very well.

JOE ROOT— 3

0 and 15

Another very familiar dismissal on tour for the former England captain, who edged behind the wicket to a good ball that probed the off-stump channel. It saw him register his fourth duck on Australian shores amid a grim top-order collapse on Day 1. Was called upon in the second innings with 63 runs to get, and hung around the crease on his own terms at a strike rate of 39.47 before being adjudged leg before. Not a great game personally, but he’ll be very grateful his Test-winning drought in Australia is finally over.

HARRY BROOK — 8

41 and 18*

It would be rude to not begin Brook’s match synopsis with mention of his absurd charge down the wicket to Mitchell Starc on his very first ball, coming to the crease at 3/8 no less. Finished with the highest score on day one of 41, highlighted by another ridiculous inside-out six over cover off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Batted with flare again the second time around in a brief knock, and proved a combative approach in the ends works in tough batting conditions.

BEN STOKES— 8

16 and 2, 1/25 and 3/24

If we’re allowed to say that someone looked really good for their 16, then Ben Stokes looked really good for his first innings knock of 16. Looked to find a nice tempo, though it must be said a horrid waft outside off stump brought his innings to a close. Bowled tremendously across both innings, in what has turned out to be an elite series with the ball for the English skipper. Mitchell Starc funnily had his number yet again in a Test match, but it meant little as Stokes finally got his first red-ball win against Australia down under.

JAMIE SMITH— 4

2 and 3*

Was found out once more on day one, bowled between bat and pad to a ball that admittedly did a lot off the volatile MCG surface. Kept soundly which brings up his rating, but was only required for two balls with the stick on day two. Will be out for at least a second half-century this series in Sydney next week.

WILL JACKS— 2

5 and DNB

Caught an inside edge through to Alex Carey while walking at Scott Boland on day one, ending his innings after just 10 balls. Didn’t get a second shot at redemption with the bat, and unsurprisingly, wasn’t deployed with the ball all match in a game dominated by seam bowling.

GUS ATKINSON— 8

2/28 and 1/20, 28 and DNB

Crazy to think he was left out of the side in Adelaide. Hit his lines and lengths right from ball one, and once again probably didn’t get the rewards in the wickets column he deserved. Went at just two runs an over in the first innings from 14 overs, which was comfortably the lowest economy of any English bowler for the match. Kicked off the wicket-taking proceedings on day two with the dismissal of nightwatchman Scott Boland. Also made a crucial, crucial 28 runs with the bat on the opening evening which shouldn’t be forgotten. A great Test match all round before he left the field on day two with what looks to be a left hamstring concern.

BRYDON CARSE — 6

1/42 and 4/34, 4 and 6

The right-arm seamer continued his volatile Ashes series, though did finish his match with the ball in fine fashion. Carse wasted the new ball on the opening morning of the Test, conceding 19 runs off his first three overs. Given his sub-par record against left-handers, it continued to surprise that he was given new ball duties again in the second innings. In the end though, he made up for a wicketless first spell to finish with figures of 4/34, dismissing the crucial South Australian duo of Travis Head and Alex Carey. Bowled well all-in-all on the second day, before coming in at number three (!!) in one of the all-time curveballs. He made six off eight balls in the shock cameo, before top-edging to third man.

JOSH TONGUE — 9

5/45 and 2/44, 1* and DNB

In the best possible way, left England selectors and the entire cricketing population wondering why on earth he wasn’t selected from the very get-go this series. Collected his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket on Boxing Day, and proved a handful to many Aussie batters. Got the key wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja in the second innings, in what was an excellent performance all round.