THE ASHES FIFTH TEST JOF TO A FLYER
New boy Archer is an instant hit for England
RORY BURNS 7.5 A real find. Only Stokes scored more runs for England than Burns’ 390, despite a constant struggle against the short ball. But he was often unflappable and will now get the winter to confirm he can be England’s long-term opener. Holds on to blinders, too.
JOE DENLY 6 Dealt well with the mid-series hospital pass that had him promoted to opener after his half- century from No 4. Has to get a run now as Burns’ partner, but will he be around for the 2021-22 Ashes?
JOE ROOT 6 FOur fifties and three ducks summed up a hit-and-miss series in which Steve Smith pulled miles clear in the contemporary batting hall of fame. Still prone to giving it away when set. Captaincy is a work in progress.
BEN STOKES 8.5 PlAyED one of the greatest innings of all time to prevent England from going 2-0 down at Headingley. It was easy to forget his unbeaten hundred at lord’s. But he’ll never forget the summer of 2019.
JONNY BAIRSTOW 5 MOvED around between No 5, 6 and 7 — and looked correspondingly disorientated. One halfcentury in 10 innings was a poor return for a player of his talent. Ben Foakes waits in the wings.
JOS BUTTLER 5.5 FINISHED strongly, with 192 runs from his final four innings, but managed only 55 in his first six, when he seemed unable to shake off the emotional exhaustion of the World Cup.
SAM CURRAN 6.5 StrANgEly ignored at Old trafford, Curran made his usual telling intervention in the final test with two wickets in two balls in Australia’s first innings.
CHRIS WOAKES 6 WAS NOt always at his best but did remove Smith three times, more than any of his team-mates. His batting faded as Australia peppered him with short stuff.
JOFRA ARCHER 9 PrODuCED some of the fastest spells in English history — his duel with Smith at lord’s was an instant classic. two six-fors in his first test series and 22 wickets. England have a gem on their hands.
JACK LEACH 6.5 HE WIll always have his one not out at Headingley, where his glasses became a national artefact. then again, he will always have his no-ball to Smith at Old trafford. the Somerset left-arm spinner finished on a high with the ball, too.
STUART BROAD 8 SHOulDErED the burden superbly in Jimmy Anderson’s absence, and was lethal against Australia’s left- handers, who accounted for 16 of his 23 wickets — including David Warner seven times. Bowled fuller and faster than ever.
MOEEN ALI 2 DrOPPED after one game, his confidence shot.
JIMMY ANDERSON 5 HOBBlED out after four overs at Edgbaston but is determined to keep going at 37.
JASON ROY 3 HAS to prove he can adapt his technique if he is to have a test future.
CRAIG OVERTON 6 BAttED for nearly three hours on the last day in Manchester, but should never have been picked ahead of Curran.