Australia beat England by eight wickets in the second Test to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes.
Here’s how we rated the players:
England
Ben Duckett – 2
Got a first pitcher, which can happen to anyone, but unfortunately got Gruber from Boland in the second inning. Kyrie’s exit was a critical moment in the game.
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Zach Crowley – 5
Showed grit in the first innings, leaving the first Test pair behind, and looked good in the second until an inadvertent knock. The fight is now underway for his future with the team.
Ollie Pop-2
The shooting in the first game was terrible, and the second game wasn’t much better. He feels most vulnerable to replacement if England change the starting order.
Joe Root – 8
Finally reaching that elusive century in Australia, the scenes on the first night were truly emotional for the England legend. Still, Root knew the result had diminished the significance of his achievement.
Harry Brooke – 2
An inexcusable chase on Starc in the twilight capped off a tense first innings, which made it all the more wasteful when he hit a good ball in the second. Not acting like a captain-designate at the moment.
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Ben Stokes – 6
Tactically he didn’t perform well, but he tried to set an example for his teammates with the bat. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in the first game, and he was angry that he couldn’t escape again in the second game.
Jamie Smith – 1
Faced 13 balls in four runs, one failed catch and another failed to move. The real concern is that the gloveman will wilt under the pressure of the Ashes tour.
Will Jacks – 6
The first test in three years had the desired effect. Battled with the bat, the ball came clean once Stokes thought of him and took a stunning catch. Have orders increased in Adelaide?
Gus Atkinson – 3
The pitching was not bad but only managed three wickets in the series. When England needed his runs, he delivered his wickets – a century he had with the home team.
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Brayden Kass – 4
The effort level never dipped, but the four wickets were enhanced by his bowling, which rarely included deliveries in the batsman’s half. Another guy who could contribute more with the bat given his abilities.
Jofra Archer – 4
He scored a run while batting in the first innings but lost it on the third day when he turned up with a pillow under his arm. Develop the unpleasant skill of bowling well without taking wickets.
Australia
Jack Weatherald – 7
He gave Australia momentum in the first innings with his maiden Test half-century. Ashes champions after just three Tests.
Travis Head – 4
After his heroics in the first Test, the game went quiet. After being dropped by Jamie Smith, he traveled to England and looked a dangerous combination with Weatherald.
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Marnus Labuschagne – 7
After being left out of the squad, he emerged as Australia’s most consistent batsman in the first two Tests. There’s bound to be a high score at some point.
Steve Smith – 7
A century looked inevitable until he was dismissed for a miraculous catch. He used his own stunt to end England’s counterattack.
Cameron Green – 5
He performed well in the first innings until his dismissal, which saw him included in the England squad. Care continues to surround Bowling’s health.
Alex Carey – 8
Lucky to be dismissed twice in crucial half-centuries, but this Test will be remembered for his glove performance. Remembering to perform better on a single test can be difficult.
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Josh Inglis – 5
Usman Khawaja may wonder where he will be if he returns to fitness. Ben Stokes’ stunning one-wicket haul changed the momentum on day one.
Michael Neser – 8
Three pink-ball Tests, three wins. Crucial runs and five wickets in England’s second innings. A simple trap – bowl line and length combined with the keeper, made England blunder. They did it.
Mitchell Starc – 10
Even better than the first Test, crucial runs produced another devastating possession for England. There is a Mitchell Johnson style collection to savor.
Scott Boland – 6
He may not have been at his best on the ball, but he still got the ball right often enough to put England into trouble. He bats better than most of England’s top players.
Brendan Doggett – 6
Replacing Pat Cummins has done a great job but will likely make way for the captain in Adelaide.