PLAYER RATINGS: Head impresses but what next for Burns?

The Cricketer runs the rule over the individual performances of the players during the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Australia beat England by nine wickets in the first Ashes Test. The Cricketer rates the players out of 10...

AUSTRALIA

David Warner (94 & DNB): Far from his most fluent half-century in the first innings, but it was still a half-century. Bowled off a no ball and dropped to boot, he made England pay. Missed the second innings with his bruised ribs. 7

Marcus Harris (3 & 9*): Did nothing to help his cause at the top of the order with a cheap first-innings dismissal. Stayed through the short chase for victory. 3

Marnus Labuschagne (74 & 0*; DNB & 0-14): Typically hyperactive at the crease but always in control, it was his innings which really establish Australia’s dominance with the bat. 8

Steve Smith (12 & DNB): Nicked off cheaply to Wood. Became the fastest to 100 outfield catches for Australia, reaching the landmark in just 45 games. The next fastest, Bob Simpson, took 54. 4

Travis Head (152 & DNB): Came into this game as perhaps the best prepared of any batsman of either side, and it showed. An 85-ball hundred, among the fastest ever in Ashes cricket, started scratchily but flew through the gears and left England dumbfounded. 9

^{Australia enjoyed a comprehensive victory over England}

Cameron Green (0 & DNB; 1-6 & 2-23) A first-ball duck was outweighed by his first Test wicket, which was quickly followed by his second (and quite some scalp, in the shape of Joe Root) and third. 6

Alex Carey (12 & 9): Did not make a major contribution with the bat but was very tidy behind the stumps, and equalled the record for catches on Test debut with eight. 7

Pat Cummins (12 & DNB; 5-38 & 2-51): Three excellent days out of four in his first match as captain. Blew England away with a fife-for in the first innings and claimed a pair of wickets in the second. Quick and aggressive with the ball, intelligent with his use of bowlers, a terrific start. 8

Mitchell Starc (35 & DNB; 2-35 & 1-77): Set the tone with a wicket from the first ball of the series. Not quite as effective in the second innings, when he didn’t find as much movement in the air. Excellent cameo with the bat. 7

Nathan Lyon (15 & DNB; 0-21 & 4-91): Claimed his 400th Test scalp by removing Dawid Malan early on day four, and quickly added three more. 7

Josh Hazlewood (0* & DNB; 2-42 & 1-32): Relentlessly brilliant with the ball, never giving England an inch. 8

ENGLAND

Rory Burns (0 & 13): The worst possible start, bowled first ball of the series. His footwork continued to be a cause for concern in the second innings, when he avoided a pair thanks to DRS. 2

Haseeb Hameed (25 & 27): Though he didn’t go on to get a score, this was an encouraging showing from Hameed. Against one of the best pace attacks in the world, he occupied the crease and ate up time - critical in giving Root a platform to score runs in the second innings. 6.5

Dawid Malan (6 & 82): Once again displayed a natural comfort in Australian conditions with a gritty second-innings half-century, sharing in a stand of 162 with Root. Will have been disappointed not to turn it into a ton. 7.5

Joe Root (0 & 86; 1-29 & DNB): Still waiting for a hundred in Australia. Responded to his duck in the first innings with a display of world-class batsmanship on day three, when he looked in a world of his own. Out nudging at a seventh-stump line from Green was a disappointing way to go. 7.5

Ben Stokes (5 & 14; 0-65 & DNB): Couldn’t settle with the bat, kept over-stepping with the ball and gave England an injury worry by jarring his knee on day two. Not the impact he’d have hoped for, but the allrounder has been out of the game for eight months. 4

^{Dawid Malan and Joe Root shared a second-innings stand of 162 for the third wicket}

Ollie Pope (35 & 4): Looked elegant in the first innings, played a sloppy shot against the spin of Lyon in the second. 4

Jos Buttler (39 & 23): Starts in both knocks without going on. The tale of his Test career. 5

Chris Woakes (21 & 16; 2-76 & 0-3): The allrounder was consistent with the ball and did offer something with the bat at No.8 without making a contribution of note. 5.5

Ollie Robinson (0 & 8; 3-58 & 1-13): Brilliant with the ball in the first innings, finding nibble off a length and worrying Australia throughout. Batting, which promised much on debut, is some way below the level England will be hoping for. 7.5

Mark Wood (8 & 6; 3-85 & 0-4): Perhaps the pick of England’s bowlers, Wood beat the bat with such regularity you could set your watch by it and regularly topped 90mph, going so far as to clock 95mph. Figures do not really give an accurate representation of his performance. 7.5

Jack Leach (2* & 0*; 0-103 & DNB) Australia went after Leach and it paid off. Going at 8.5 an over, he became something of a sitting duck. Did not roll over, and kept his composure, but England will need to consider whether he is the right fit for the circumstances in Adelaide. 3

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