Second Ashes Test: Australian player ratings

The Roar runs the ruler over the Australian players after the second Test in Adelaide – or what’s left of them after being disassembled by England.

Australia Player Ratings:
Simon Katich: 5 Can’t be too hard on Katich, who didn’t face a ball in his first innings after being involved in a dodgy run, and batted bravely on a ginger Achilles heel in the second innings when he made 43. Each run hurt, badly. Too gritty? He’s out for the rest of series.

Shane Watson: 6 Watson loves to make a 50, as he did in both innings. But for Australia to really impose upon England, he must go on with it. Would change the complexion of the series if he could stamp himself as Australia’s feared opener. Bowled fairly, taking Collingwood’s wicket, but England were already beyond 400.

Ricky Ponting (c): 1 Golden duck in the first, and just as a captain’s knock was needed in the second innings, the man they call Punter failed to deliver with just 9 runs. Looked bitterly disappointed, and so he should have been.

Devoid of ideas as Captain in the field for the second match in this series, and for the upteenth game in a row. Must long for the days of Warne and McGrath, rather than his pack of chuckers.

Michael Clarke: 5 Collapsed with the rest of the top order first dig before finally imposing his classy game on England on his way to 80 in the second. Fell to part-timer Pietersen who delivered a sharp one with the last ball of Day Four, just when Australia didn’t need a wicket to fall.

Pietersen will be strutting around for weeks.

Mike Hussey: 7 Back in form, and making a mockery of those who said he was past it. Just short of another century in the first innings, but his wicket falling in the second innings triggered the end of Australia. Needed to play a crucial role in the second innings.

Firmly back in form, Mr. Cricket needs to bottle it. It’s good stuff.

Marcus North: 2 Failed to save himself with two starts and two fails.The axe might just hold off with his return to his home of Perth as Katich’s injury plays a role. Has a worrying stench about him of failing when Australia is under pressure. Gentle offspin was neat but non-threatening.

Has to be a batting all-rounder to fill the role.

Brad Haddin: 6 Solid 56 in his first bat from the reliable wicket-keeper, and a sharp catch to remove Cook. Failed with the rest in the second innings. One position Australia do not have any concerns over, yet have a very good backup in Tim Paine.

More wicketkeepers in the side would be good for Australia.

Ryan Harris: 6 The pick of Australia’s bowlers, deserved both hard fought wickets, and threatened England during his spells. Earned his place in a pace attack that is crying out for class.

Xavier Doherty: 2 Has all of a sudden found himself in the Melbourne Cup with just a couple of runs at Mildura under his belt. Second and last Test for Australia in the near future. England will miss him. Genuinely felt sorry for him; at 28 he may have left his run too late to develop into a class spinner.

Peter Siddle: 5 Bowled with heart, but without movement. Solid, reliable, but never devestating in Adelaide. Sids, mate, where did you put that fire from the first innings in Brisbane?

Doug Bollinger: 3 Dougy was a yard or two off the pace and had some poor luck, but it wasn’t the return to Test cricket he nor Australia would have been hoping for. Probably rushed back without being fully fit; Bollinger at anything less than 100% isn’t potent. His selection for the next Test in Perth looks questionable. But who could come in?

That’s my take.

How did you rate the Australian players?