So, how did the Australian players fare in the Ashes? Let’s find out!
Chris Rogers – 9
Rogers has retired from all forms of cricket, and what a way to go! He was easily Australia’s most consistent batsman and got the most runs for his side. It wasn’t an easy tour for him as he found himself in more controversies than he would want to, which is usual for a disciplined player like him. But he came through and bows out on a high. Well played, Sir!
Nathan Lyon – 8
Nathan Lyon was the most underrated player for Australia. When one refers to the Australian attack, one thinks of the fast bowlers – Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. But it was Lyon who was their most consistent bowler, picking 16 wickets in a hard fought series. Lyon has already played 46 Tests for Australia at the age of 27 and is their only world class spinner.
Peter Siddle – 10
What a player! Siddle was ignored for most of the series and his career in international cricket was almost over. But one chance was all he got, and he made the most of it, winning the fifth Test for Australia with six wickets and giving away next to nothing. Perhaps not picking Siddle earlier was the reason Australia lost the Ashes.
Steven Smith – 6
It’s hard to describe Steve Smith’s series. He did next to nothing in the 3 matches lost by Australia and hit big hundreds in the 2 Tests won by them. Is he the world’s best batsman or is he just a flat track bully who does well when the conditions are easy? We don’t know. Smith still has a lot to prove in Test cricket and he will get his chances, as he is Australia’s new captain.
David Warner – 6
Warner had a decent series, and always looked a threat as long as he was at the crease. But he failed to cash in and never really made an impact on the Ashes. Still, he was Australia’s third best batsman after Rodgers and Smith and as the new vice-captain of the Australian team, he will want to prove himself at the highest level. He is still young and will get his chances.
Mitchell Johnson – 5
Johnson never quite looked as threatening as he did in the last Ashes played in Australia. He found adjusting to the seaming conditions in England quite difficult. But he wasn’t bad or ineffective, he was quite decent – he just wasn’t the match winner that he can be. His pace was down as well.
Mitchell Starc – 5
There were times in the series when Starc was almost unplayable. But he didn’t make those moments count as England got away every time. He still remains an enigma and will have to impose himself more on a match before he is taken seriously as a match-winner in Test cricket.
Peter Nevill – 5
Peter Nevill came in as a replacement for Brad Haddin and did what was asked of him. He is a traditional wicketkeeper-batsman in the Ian Healy mould and not someone who can win a match with his swashbuckling batting like the great Adam Gilchrist. Australia will probably want a wicketkeeper who bats better than Nevill does.
Mitchell Marsh – 5
Marsh did absolutely nothing as a batsman, which was supposed to be his strong suite, but did brilliantly as a bowler. In fact, he deserves a spot in the Australian team as a bowler alone, based on his effective seam and swing bowling. He has to do a lot more as a batsman, though.
Josh Hazlewood – 3
In the hindsight, Hazlewood’s selection in place of Peter Siddle is probably the reason Australia lost the Ashes. It wasn’t that Hazlewood was particularly poor, he just wasn’t good enough and his bowling was largely ineffective.
Adam Voges – 3
Voges was utterly mediocre in the whole series and it was clear that he is just not good enough to play at the highest level. It was only because the other batsmen were in even worse form that someone like him got such an extended run in the side.
Michael Clarke – 1
We will never see Michael Clarke play cricket again. One of Australia’s most accomplished cricketers, Clarke has retired from international cricket, which brings an end to an era. Clarke was Australia’s first celebrity captain, known as much as for his model girlfriends as for his batting. Pity his last series will be remembered as his worst for Australia. He looked a shadow of his former self as a batsman in this series and did precious little.
Shane Watson – 1
Watson is another player who has probably played his last Test for Australia. He played just one Test in the whole series and his performance was forgettable.
Brad Haddin – 2
Haddin was forced to go on a leave for a personal issue involving his young daughter’s health on the eve of the Lord’s Test and he was never picked for a game again. He is one of the senior Australian players who will probably never play international cricket again.
Shaun Marsh – 0
Marsh gets a rating of zero, because that’s all he did in the entire series. His batting was a joke and it is unlikely that he will ever again get another chance to play for Australia.
