England entered this first Ashes Test with their ‘fortress’ of Edgbaston giving them a clear edge over their visiting opponents. Five days later, that fortress has all the structural integrity of a jumping castle as the hosts notched their first loss to Australia at the venue since 2001.
There were some standout moments for England in the Test – Rory Burns’ century, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes’ Day 1 spells, that giant inflatable Trump running around the ground being chased by some sombrero-wearing assailants – but there just weren’t enough meaningful contributions from the entire team.
Rory Burns: 8/10
His technique might be about as easy on the eye as Pavel Florin’s bowling action, but it seems to work for Burns. A superb maiden hundred in the first innings. If only his teammates showed some of his grit in the second.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Jason Roy: 2
Roy played a shot most park cricketers would be embarrassed with when England needed him to dig in which started their last-day rot, and looked lost in the first innings. Has a long way to go to prove he has either the technique or temperament for Test cricket.
Joe Root (c): 6
Looked immovable in the first dig before hitting Peter Siddle a sharp return catch and it took a perfect delivery and short-leg catch to remove him yesterday. But Root’s captaincy was below par, his field placements unusual and his decision to not bowl Chris Woakes in the opening session of Day 4 downright perplexing.
Joe Denly: 3
Looks to have the technique for Test cricket but hasn’t delivered the runs yet. Made starts in both innings without going on with it, and needs a good score soon.
Jos Buttler: 2
Twin failures for Buttler, although both dismissals were from unplayable Pat Cummins deliveries.
Ben Stokes: 6
Asked to carry more of a bowling load with Jimmy Anderson’s injury, Stokes toiled well without offering the same control as his spearhead. Made a fine half-century in the first innings and was undone by a brute from Nathan Lyon in the second.
Jonny Bairstow: 1
The talk from the English press before the Ashes got underway was that Tim Paine wasn’t deserving of his place in the Australian XI, or at least might struggle to keep it. In reality, they’d be better off looking at the home side’s own wicketkeeper. Bairstow contributed nothing meaningful with the bat – he’s now scored just 30 runs in his last six Test innings – and his keeping was patchy at best. Surely Ben Foakes must come into consideration for the next match.
Moeen Ali: 2
Moeen didn’t offer enough control or prove much of a wicket-taking threat on a pitch made to later look a minefield, and his batting was notable only for once again falling to Lyon, who now has his spin counterpart’s wicket nine times in that six matches. Looks set to be dropped for Jack Leach.
Chris Woakes: 7
A pair of 37s – the second of which was the top score for the innings – meant Woakes outshone many of his top-order teammates with the bat, although that’s less surprising when you look at his record at home. His second-session spell on Day 1 almost won the game. Who knows why Joe Root bowled him so sparingly in the second innings.
Stuart Broad: 7
It looked like this was going to be yet another Ashes in which a single Stuart Broad spell ended Australia’s hopes of victory in England. The veteran was sensational on Day 1 and contributed valuable runs on Day 3, but couldn’t make much of an impact with the ball in the second innings. Claimed David Warner’s wicket twice in what is shaping as a series-defining contest.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Jimmy Anderson: N/A
Was injured after bowling just four tight overs on the opening morning. His value to this England team was only emphasised by his absence.
Johnny Bairstow has hit his way back into form with a 45-ball century as he steered his side to a record-breaking win, easily chasing…
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
England's chances of retaining the Twenty20 World Cup have been hit for six with the news Ben Stokes has opted out of selection for…
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
