PLAYER RATINGS
CAMERON BANCROFT: 2
Welcome back to Test cricket Cameron Bancroft. The opener had a tough time of it having been called in to replace Marcus Harris, and looked all at sea in both innings as the England seamers worked him over. There are major question marks over his technique against the moving ball, despite his guts and determination.
DAVID WARNER: 1
A horror return to Test cricket for Warner after his 12-month balltampering ban. Warner should have been out first ball when caught behind off Stuart Broad, but was given not out. It was the last piece of good fortune he would enjoy, falling for two single-figure scores.
USMAN KHAWAJA: 6
A frustrating Test for Australia’s No.3, who enjoyed starts in both knocks before giving tickles through to the keeper from seaming deliveries. Khawaja looked in good touch in his brisk secondinnings 40.
STEVE SMITH: 10
What is left to say about Smith’s performances at Edgbaston? The 30-year-old had a Test match of his dreams this week, hitting an emotional century in an impossible situation to banish the darkest year of his career — before backing it up to become the first Aussie since Steve Waugh in 1997 to hit twin tons in an Ashes Test in England.
TRAVIS HEAD: 7
Twice came in with Australia deep in a hole and on both occasions provided the support Steve Smith needed to start the rebuild, making starts in each innings. Careless dismissal having done the grunt work in the second innings shows there’s improvement to be had.
MATTHEW WADE: 8
An inspired selection to shore up Australia’s middle order and he delivered with a crucial secondinnings century on a sticky pitch which helped set up Australia’s hefty target. It’s been a long time coming for Wade, who had almost given up on reviving his time in the Test team but could now, at 31, add to his 23 Tests and three centuries in the twilight of his career.
TIM PAINE: 6
A rough performance behind the stumps on a wicket that was a nightmare for keepers. Deserves praise for his rotation of the bowlers and the timing of his declaration, which some felt came too late but proved to be bang on.
JAMES PATTINSON: 7
Started with a bang, bowling express pace with a snarl and snaring his first wicket in 3½ years when he had Jason Roy caught driving. Like every quick in this contest, the big Victorian struggled as the ball softened and ultimately took just the two scalps.
PAT CUMMINS: 8
The world’s No.1 Test bowler got it wrong to start England’s first innings, bowling too short and too leg-side. But midway through the middle session on day two he recalibrated and from there he was all over England like a rash, finishing with match figures of 7-116 to cement his place as the leader of the Australian pace attack.
PETER SIDDLE: 7
A surprise inclusion, to some, Siddle provided one of the most telling impacts on the game with a crucial first-innings 44 to help Steve Smith dig Australia out of trouble. Bowling accurately and economically, Siddle was Australia’s most frugal bowler across both innings.
NATHAN LYON: 8
Set tongues wagging when his first delivery of the series spun sharply back towards Joe Root, but struggled to cash in early on a turning deck. Then took three wickets in a 25-ball span before lunch on day five to tear the guts out of England’s middle order and spin Australia to victory with 6-49. Also continued his utter dominance over Moeen Ali.