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Well what a series! Australia retain the Ashes, but its fair to say there are still question marks about this team. A 2-2 result for me was about right, though as great as the Stokes innings at Headingly was, you cannot help but feel Australia let that test go. The fact they were able to come back and dominate in Manchester was a real positive.
In terms of players my review is (scores out of 10):
The Batsmen
Warner – failed yet again in England, this time spectacularly. Got into double figures once with a streaky 60; was out 7 out of 10 times to Broad; posted 3 consecutive ducks; and averaged less than 10 with a total of 95 runs for the series. If Australia is serious about defending the Ashes in 2 years time at home, they will do well to consider the extent to which Warner will be part of this. If they are intent on planning for the 2023 tour to England then Warner has played his last test. (1)
Harris – disappointing is the only way to describe the 3 tests he played. He failed to come to grips with English conditions and was unable to temper his aggression. He topped all of this off by dropping 2 important catches; Stokes during his Headingly rampage (hard catch, but…); Denly in the 2nd dig at the Oval. Both had profound impacts on the outcomes of the matches. If you’re not contributing with the bat you have to find ways to contribute on the field – Warner and Bancroft did. (0)
Bancroft – in the end the change had to be made. He seemed to become less confident and more stuck in his crease as each innings advanced (ie he looked more in 1st ball than he did when he was out). He has technical issues outside off stump and will do well to address these. Another season or 2 at Durham will help, though it didn’t really do much to enhance his batting this time around. (1)
Lambuschagne – really enhanced his profile as a solid batsman. He has great technique, plays with soft hands and can defend and attack. If there is a criticism its that he spurned some chances to go big and get that first test century. I think he will be a better player once this hoodoo is broken. Given the circumstances in which he was introduced to Ashes cricket he had a wonderful series. His bowling is handy and with work will be a useful option as a partnership breaker. (7)
Khawaja – for a player who averages over 40, and at times makes batting look easy, too often Khawaja just got out at inopportune times. This series again showed the worst of Khawaja. Fluent and in control and then out to an innocuous waft to balls going wide of the stump. He too has probably played his last Ashes series in England. (4)
Smith – prodigious, 774 runs in a series from 7 innings is amazing (11)
Head – a little like Harris his series was disappointing. His performances declined as the series progressed and he became more and more susceptible to the bowlers coming around the wicket and angling into the left hander. He has some technical issues to sort out. (5)
Wade – a real battler. Its easy to pot his 2 tons and say he got them when the going was easy, but given that just 4 players made centuries in series and only 3 made more than 1 that would be belittling the achievements. Wade is no Bradman/Smith/Ponting, but he is a pugnacious grafter who adjusted his game during the series to cope with the challenge laid out by the English bowlers. Unlike other senior players, he changed his game and his mindset to cope with the challenges. 2 unlucky dismissals didn’t help. (7)
In terms of players my review is (scores out of 10):
The Batsmen
Warner – failed yet again in England, this time spectacularly. Got into double figures once with a streaky 60; was out 7 out of 10 times to Broad; posted 3 consecutive ducks; and averaged less than 10 with a total of 95 runs for the series. If Australia is serious about defending the Ashes in 2 years time at home, they will do well to consider the extent to which Warner will be part of this. If they are intent on planning for the 2023 tour to England then Warner has played his last test. (1)
Harris – disappointing is the only way to describe the 3 tests he played. He failed to come to grips with English conditions and was unable to temper his aggression. He topped all of this off by dropping 2 important catches; Stokes during his Headingly rampage (hard catch, but…); Denly in the 2nd dig at the Oval. Both had profound impacts on the outcomes of the matches. If you’re not contributing with the bat you have to find ways to contribute on the field – Warner and Bancroft did. (0)
Bancroft – in the end the change had to be made. He seemed to become less confident and more stuck in his crease as each innings advanced (ie he looked more in 1st ball than he did when he was out). He has technical issues outside off stump and will do well to address these. Another season or 2 at Durham will help, though it didn’t really do much to enhance his batting this time around. (1)
Lambuschagne – really enhanced his profile as a solid batsman. He has great technique, plays with soft hands and can defend and attack. If there is a criticism its that he spurned some chances to go big and get that first test century. I think he will be a better player once this hoodoo is broken. Given the circumstances in which he was introduced to Ashes cricket he had a wonderful series. His bowling is handy and with work will be a useful option as a partnership breaker. (7)
Khawaja – for a player who averages over 40, and at times makes batting look easy, too often Khawaja just got out at inopportune times. This series again showed the worst of Khawaja. Fluent and in control and then out to an innocuous waft to balls going wide of the stump. He too has probably played his last Ashes series in England. (4)
Smith – prodigious, 774 runs in a series from 7 innings is amazing (11)
Head – a little like Harris his series was disappointing. His performances declined as the series progressed and he became more and more susceptible to the bowlers coming around the wicket and angling into the left hander. He has some technical issues to sort out. (5)
Wade – a real battler. Its easy to pot his 2 tons and say he got them when the going was easy, but given that just 4 players made centuries in series and only 3 made more than 1 that would be belittling the achievements. Wade is no Bradman/Smith/Ponting, but he is a pugnacious grafter who adjusted his game during the series to cope with the challenge laid out by the English bowlers. Unlike other senior players, he changed his game and his mindset to cope with the challenges. 2 unlucky dismissals didn’t help. (7)
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