Ashes player ratings matter for return leg

We’ve just passed the halfway point of the series and despite having already lost the Ashes there have been promising signs.

If Australia can win the last two Tests they’ll take all the momentum into the return Ashes in Australia in the coming summer.

So who has stepped up thus far and who has left their place in the side on a knife’s edge?

I’ve rated each player based on their contributions in the series so far and assessed their chances of holding their place come the first Test in Australia at the Gabba.

Chris Rogers 6 – 185 runs @ 30.83
Rogers came into the side to bring an older, experienced and level head at the top of the order. He has shown he certainly has the grit, determination and application to make it at Test level.

Having found his feet he now needs to make a big score to seal his place for the next series.

His free flowing 84 in the first innings at Old Trafford set the perfect platform for a brilliant all-round Australian display.

However, with little competition it would be a safe bet that he’s already done enough to earn himself another several Test caps.

Shane Watson 4 – 146 runs @ 24.33 and wicket at 114
What to do with Shane Watson? The two time Allan Border medallist and one-time saviour of Australian cricket has trudged with the bat and lacked penetration with the ball thus far.

His bowling has earned an honourable mention for being tight, but while building pressure at one end has been his strength, taking wickets and making his starts with the bat count has not.

Another lean Test at Chester-le-Street will surely put his place in the under immense strain and test the selectors to the limit.

But we’ve all seen Watson in full flight and he’s one innings away from being among the most destructive Test batsmen in the world.

Usman Khawaja 3 – 93 @ 23.25
It pains me to see Khawaja’s struggles. It looked like he’s turned the corner at Lord’s with a gritty 54 in the second innings.

In Manchester the umpiring howler of the year curtailed Khawaja’s form rise and must have dented his confidence.

However, it appears as though the selectors, in particular coach Darren Lehmann, have afforded him the luxury of a pick and stick mentality.

This means he will have time to redeem himself. A big hundred is a must in his next few Tests if Khawaja wants an immediate future in the Australian Test side.

Michael Clarke (captain) 8 – 319 runs @ 63.80 and 0/2
Clarke struggled to find his groove in the opening two Tests, but when he got going he rammed home an advantage with a sublime 187 in Manchester.

It’s no coincidence that Australia’s most dominant display in the series coincided with a big Clarke innings, demonstrating just how crucial he is to the side.

If Australia are to walk away from the series with any respectability, Clarke will need to keep scoring big runs.

Steven Smith 7 – 181 @ 30.86 and 4 wickets @ 22.25
Steve Smith may just emerge from back-to-back Ashes series as Australia’s next captain in waiting. Having found his feet as a middle order batsman and part-time leg spinner, he has filled a niche so dearly needed.

His ability to counter attack against spin and remain busy whether fielding or batting has lifted his standing among the side to be one of it’s most valuable contributors.

A fantastic 89, falling agonisingly short of a maiden Test ton, and a huge partnership with Michael Clarke, showed he had the ability to play an innings of substance.

Getting that first hundred off his back will settle Smith into a certain pick for the next few years in this Australian side.

David Warner 4 – 46 runs @ 23
Warner’s second innings 41 got Australia off to a solid start at Old Trafford.

Having only played one Test thus far, his sample size is too small to create a rounded judgement on his current form.

A quick fire hundred in one of the next two tests will make Warner a certain started at the Gabba this summer.

A couple of lean Tests could contrastingly place a shadow over his place in the Australian side.

Playing the pantomime villain has proven to be a crowd pleasing sub-plot thus far and one which I’m sure Warner will relish.

Brad Haddin 8 – 159 runs @ 31.80 and 19 catches
The new vice captain was solid, if not slightly under whelming with the gloves in his first two outings of the series, but at Old Trafford he was sublime.

Seven catches and 73 runs for once out was a deservedly impressive return.

His 71 at Trent Bridge was one of the best innings of his career and nearly steered Australia to what would have been a victory for the ages.

Has undoubtedly proved to be Australia’s number one keeper and shown what a big game player he can be.

Mitchell Starc 6 – 78 runs @ 26 and 8 wickets @ 27.12
Starc has nabbed enough wickets to keep his name up there and made a very handy 66* in Manchester.

However, he has bowled far too many balls that have not forced the English batsmen to play and has somewhat wasted the new ball.

His statistics are solid, which counts for something, but his actual impact on the game, particularly with the ball, has left room for improvement.

A big haul in one of the next two Tests may book him a start at the Gabba next summer, but it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll even get a run in the coming matches.

Peter Siddle 9 – 33 runs @ 6.6 and 16 wickets @ 21.68
Many questioned if Siddle would have as much impact against the formidable English batting line-up, whether he’d be able to swing the ball and if he’d find form after a lean run in the warm-up games.

He’s answered all questions of him in the best possible way, drawing praise from his detractors and earning the respect of his English opponents.

There’s no doubting he’s now one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.

When Australia needs a wicket, ‘Sids’ is their man. His lion-heart has proven invaluable with long, consistent and nagging spells often resulting in crucial wickets.

Siddle will be the back-bone of Australia’s attack, if not the side as a whole, for as long as he remains fit.

Ryan Harris 8 – 26 runs @ 26 and 11 wickets @ 18
‘Ryano’ has added some real penetration to the Australian attack in the last two Tests.

Fitness remains his biggest hurdle and it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll be rested from the Durham Test.

When he’s able to play, Harris should be a certain starter and forms a formidable bowling duo with Siddle.

It’s fair to say as a new ball bowler that Harris qualifies as the spearhead of the Aussie attack. His display in his two Tests so far have demonstrated that he truly is world class.

Nathan Lyon 2 – 1 wicket @ 103
Lyon remained economical at Old Trafford and looked like he might cause some problems on day five, but the weather curtailed his attempts to run through the English order.

With only one wicket for the match, questions will remain about his ability to break through, rather than just hold up an end.

Ed Cowan 1 – 14 runs @ 7
A duck and 14 in his only match at Trent Bridge was the final straw for the Australian selectors and he was dropped.

Cowan is unlikely to get another look in for the last two Tests and will need a big start to the Sheffield Shield to push his claims for a recall.

If he can’t manage that then his Test career may well be over.

Phillip Hughes 2 – 83 runs @ 27.66
A fighting 81* in the first Test was followed by a laboured duck and a pair of ones.

It wasn’t the fact Hughes had failed that saw him dropped, but the manner in which he batted on his way to failure.

Hughes looked all at sea, in particular to one of the world’s best spinners in Graeme Swann.

Hughes is probably still the next batsman in line and could conceivably play at the Oval, the bottom line he’ll need to score runs early in the Shield if he wants to be at the Gabba wearing a baggy green.

Ashton Agar 3 – 130 runs @ 32.50 and 2 wickets @ 124
A memorable and entertaining 98 in the first Test may have won him a few world records and the hearts of both the Australian and English public, but Agar was in the side to take wickets.

He failed in his primary role and was rightly dropped. Nathan Lyon’s inadequacies however, may see Agar back before the end of the series.

The start of Sheffield Shield will serve as a bowl off between Agar, Lyon, Ahmed and every other spinner in the country for a place in the first Test.