England won’t regain the Ashes after they failed to hang on for a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
With so much weather, England came within 14 overs of saving the Test, but just had too much time to survive in the end. They were in a bad spot after losing the toss and struggling to bowl Australia out in the first dig, before their big names struggled with the bat themselves.
Let’s have a look at how each of their players rated.
Rory Burns: 6/10
Burns is nothing more than an old-fashioned opener who is prepared to graft, grit and grind his way to whatever score he can make. It’s not pretty, but it was good in the first innings as he made an important 85. His score in the second, a duck at the end of Day 4, left England in a spot of bother.
Joe Denly: 5
It was probably unfair on Denly to send him to the top of the order and expect everything to be perfect. He certainly wasn’t out of sorts at number four, but was still hunting for his breakthrough score. He only got four in the first dig but toughed it out in the second for a half-century, which more importantly lasted 123 balls, before getting out at a bad time.
Joe Root: 5
Root needed to be better. His 71 in the first innings is nothing but a distant memory after his first-ball duck in the second dig. The skipper has been outplayed by Steve Smith, and it’s been a telling point on this Ashes series.
Jason Roy: 4
Dropped to number four, Roy ended up with scores of 22 and 31, which were his highest of the series. His Test career is on the ropes, and it looks pretty unlikely that he will be picked for the Oval.
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Ben Stokes: 3
From the highest of highs at Leeds to the lowest of lows at Manchester, Stokes has experienced a wide range of emotions in the last fortnight. He scored a combined 27 runs across his two innings here, walking in the second on an average shot to be caught behind, while his bowling in the first dig lacked rhythm and penetration. He went at over six runs per over and was taken apart by the Aussies in what was a poor Test for the all-rounder, which made his third Test match-saving innings mean virtually nothing.
Jonny Bairstow: 4
Just when it looked like Bairstow was starting to find some form, he has put up a pretty ordinary return in Manchester – one which hurt England badly. On a pitch where starting was tough but batting got easier once set, Bairstow squandered scores of 17 and 25, getting out to Mitchell Starc in both innings.
Jos Buttler: 5
Like Bairstow, Buttler failed to capitalise on starts in both innings. His 41 in the first dig cam at a fair clip and he was looking confident until Pat Cummins got him with a beauty, while Josh Hazlewood did the same to him on Day 5 with England needing he and Craig Overton to take the game much deeper than they did. The situation didn’t suit Buttler’s batting though, and he deserves credit for showing the control to go at a strike rate of just 30.
Craig Overton: 6
Brought into the side to replace Chris Woakes, Overton didn’t do a bad job with the ball. While he didn’t get to bowl with a new ball in the first innings and his opportunities were limited in the second dig, he did the job as best he could.
Jofa Archer: 5
Archer looked like he had forgotten he was picked to bowl fast in the first innings. He didn’t provide England with the point of difference they so desperately required, and Smith had a field day against him. He finished the first innings with 0/97, and while he recovered a little in the second dig, his performance still wasn’t good enough.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Stuart Broad: 7
Broad was, again, the pick of the English bowlers. While he couldn’t get rid of Steve Smith, he did have it on a string against the Aussie openers in both digs, putting the tourists on the back foot early doors. He has made David Warner’s place in the Aussie side close to untenable and picked up five wickets for the match. Broad now has 19 at 26 for the series.
Jack Leach: 4
It really wasn’t a Test for the spin bowlers until the very end, and so Leach never really got a chance to bowl in suitable conditions. He toiled well in the first innings to grab a couple of poles, but only bowled nine overs in the second and went at more than six runs an over without being overly threatening.
Roarers, what did you make of England’s performance as they lost the urn in Manchester?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Funy, he always looks likes there is no cream for his porridge.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Only in cricket. The game of wonderful nuances.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I actually thought he was playing out the script for the 8th Harry Potter book with his batting in the 4th. I loved his 'every ball is the next' attitude.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
The idea of a drawn series and retaining a shield/trophy/urn is an odd one hey. The sense of “job done” does seem pretty strong here. But celebrating after a loss certainly won’t be the same.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
You don’t think expectations should be higher based that innings? I’m sure his team mates expected more. But fair enough on the wording. His personal score for this test, doesn’t affect his personal score for the previous one.
JohA
Guest
Fact: Australia actually did WIN the THIRD test! If the umpire did his job and made the right call on Ben Stokes, Australia would have won by one run. This is saying nothing about the missed run out opportunity. So, no surprise we slammed them again!
U
Roar Rookie
Foakes for sure. But I’d still think about Bairstow as a batsman
U
Roar Rookie
Broad is a very good bowler but a whiner in personality and has no fight with the bat. Not captaincy material
U
Roar Rookie
It’s got to be Stokes. He looked like he was leading the team half the time anyway.
U
Roar Rookie
Leach has to be persisted with. He’s a real fighter and a good spinner.
U
Roar Rookie
It also means that Australia has to win or draw the last test to actually win the series.
U
Roar Rookie
Bairstow plays better up the order as a specialist batsman. Foakes can take the gloves and they can drop Butler
U
Roar Rookie
How did Overton get a 6? Woakes is twice the player he is and it’s a crime that he’s been dropped for lesser players like Overton and Archer. If I was England, I’d bring in Foakes, and young Olly Pope who averages 60 in country cricket. Drop Butler, Overton and Roy. Promote Bairstow to 5. Burns, Denly, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Foakes, Woakes, Leach, Archer, Broad.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
The team as a whole had to back it up with something, not Stokes individually. Stokes has been backing up for England all summer. I stand by it, harsh turn of phrase.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Any chance Foakes comes in to replace Roy? Better batsman than that spud and also a better keeper than Bairstow. Longer term if he keeps up his form proper batsmen can take Butler's and Bairstows spots. 5 batsmen, Stokes, Foakes & 4 bowlers looks better than trying to find spots for 3 or 4 flat trackers who are suited for #6.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'd keep Denly at 3 and push Root to 4. Denly really impressed me in the second dig. Just looked immovable until he copped a ripper from Lyon. He's scored two 50s from his last three digs. They can't drop him now. Surely if Bairstow and Buttler go, Foakes comes in to keep?
Flexis
Roar Rookie
In terms of personal achievement and accolades it obviously means a lot. But in terms of the series it only kept it alive for one more test. Stokes had to back it up with something, anything. And he did not.
Bruce
Guest
I agree. He's done really well and got Smith out but for overstepping.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
He's pushing 34 though. Does he have enough of a career left in the Test side to warrant it? It would have to be a short term solution which may be Ok if the aim was to relieve Root and then hope someone else put their hand up.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As an allrounder, I think he would find it as difficult as Beefy did back then. As a dark horse, what about Broad as captain?