Australia Ashes series player ratings: No surprises as Steve Smith and Pat Cummins take top honours

Australia have retained the Ashes, the series coming to an end with an England victory at the Oval.

Two months ago, the 2-2 scoreline would have been snatched up in a jiffy had it been offered to Tim Paine. Now, after winning the fourth Test, it feels like a slight anti-climax – although given the quality of the first four matches, it was always going to be hard for the fifth to live up to them.

Here’s how each of the Australians rated over the course of the series.

Tim Paine (c): 5/10
180 runs at 20, 20 catches as wicketkeeper
A strange series for the captain. Paine’s keeping was, a few exceptions notwithstanding, excellent, his batting hit-and-miss, and his use of DRS appalling. Left something to be desired with the other aspects of his captaincy at times, but also got it spot on during when the Ashes were retained on the final day at Old Trafford.

Cameron Bancroft: 2
44 runs at 11
Like every opening batsmen in the squad, it was not a happy Ashes for Bancroft. This was not a series for the men at the top of the order. The West Australian at least was able to hang around and soak up some deliveries – he averaged twice as many balls faced per innings than Marcus Harris and David Warner – and his work at short leg was excellent, but ultimately failed to score enough runs.

Pat Cummins: 9
29 wickets at 19.6
With 29 scalps – yet surprisingly no five-fors – Cummins topped the wicket tally, finishing six ahead of Stuart Broad. He was immense throughout, always threatening yet remaining tight and controlled. Produced two or three unplayable balls which clipped the top of off, and you can bet Joe Root will be glad he doesn’t have to face up to Cummins anytime soon.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Marcus Harris: 1
58 runs at 9.7
Three Tests and not a single notable contribution with the bat from Harris. He was brought into the side midway through the series but ended up offering less than the man he replaced. Needs some time back in Shield cricket to work on his game.

Josh Hazlewood: 8
20 wickets at 21.9
Overlooked for the opener, Hazlewood made up for lost time by taking three wickets in his first session of the series at Lord’s. Not much changed after that. The pick of the bowlers not named Pat Cummins, he was outstanding in his four matches, finishing with 20 wickets at 21.9.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Travis Head: 4
191 runs at 27.3
It came as a surprise when Head was dropped for the Oval Test. He didn’t put up a massive weight of runs, but was making England earn his wicket, never throwing it away. His highlight was a gutsy last-day effort at Lord’s to bat out the draw. He’ll be back in the side this summer.

Usman Khawaja: 3
122 runs at 20.3
In hindsight, the selectors erred in dropping Khawaja altogether rather than pushing him up the order. In the three matches he did play he struggled, making a habit of getting a start then getting out.

Marnus Labuschagne: 8
353 runs at 50.4, 1 wicket at 56
Labuschagne was excellent after coming into the side at Lord’s for Steve Smith as the first-ever concussion substitute. 353 runs and four fifties later and he’s one of very few Australian batsmen to finish this series with a better reputation than the one he started with. Even chipped in with the ball taking the crucial penultimate wicket at Old Trafford.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Nathan Lyon: 6
20 wickets at 33.4
Lyon was marvellous at the start of the series, grabbing nine match-winning wickets at Edgbaston before snaring three more in the first innings at Lord’s. After that, though, it was tough work for the off-spinner, who could only take eight wickets in the remaining seven innings. A cut on his spinning finger limited Lyon’s effectiveness for the final two Tests, as did his tendency to bowl too straight. Still, 20 wickets from an away Ashes series is a strong return.

Mitchell Marsh: 7
41 runs at 20.5, 7 wickets at 12.3
A surprise inclusion for the final Test, Marsh made a superb impact with the ball, taking his first five-wicket haul in the format and 7-86 for the match. Looked alright with the bat even if he didn’t make a significant score.

James Pattinson: 6
5 wickets at 33.4
Pattinson didn’t have the impact many thought he would, only finishing with five wickets from his two Tests. He was unlucky to not have more of both, and will be right in the mix to face Pakistan in a few months.

Peter Siddle: 6
7 wickets at 42.1
Had a poor game at the Oval in what could well be his final Test, but Siddle started the series in excellent form, keeping it tight while wobbling the ball around dangerously using a scrambled seam. Had a number of catches dropped off his bowling in the first two matches (although returned the favour by spilling a soda at the Oval), so his series return of seven wickets from three outings is a little misleading.

Steve Smith: 10
774 runs at 110
You’ve already read the numbers, but they’re worth repeating: 774 runs. Three centuries. Three fifties. An average of 110. And all in just three-and-a-half Tests. Steve Smith’s 2019 Ashes will be remembered as one of the finest series performances in cricket history. He was the difference between the two sides.

(Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Mitchell Starc: 6
4 wickets at 31.5
Starc only played one Test, in which he took four wickets and produced a couple of unplayable deliveries, while also showing the lack of control which stopped him from getting more game time. No longer the pace spearhead, where he currently sits in the current pecking order is a fascinating discussion.

Matthew Wade: 6
337 runs at 33.7
One of only two Australians to make a century, this series was a mixed bag for Wade. His second-innings contributions – which included both tons – were better than his offerings in the first. There were a couple of disappointing dismissals, but ultimately the Tasmanian justified his selection.

David Warner: 1
95 runs at 9.5
A horrid series for Warner. He made a single half-century at Headingley yet still couldn’t muster 100 runs. The left-hander was constantly found out by Stuart Broad from around the wicket, the England veteran dismissing him seven times. A bit of first-class cricket before the home Test season starts will do Warner plenty of good.