Steve Smith flawless as Ben Stokes crashes back to Earth: Player ratings from fourth Ashes Test

Paul Radley runs the rule over the 22 players involved at Old Trafford

David Warner - 1. Bagged the first pair of his Test career, and now has three ducks in a row against Stuart Broad. All at sea. AFP

Marcus Harris - 2. A second match of low yields after coming in to the side to replace Cameron Bancroft. His bright start in Test cricket is fading into memory. Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne - 8. Looked to be relishing his opportunity to bat alongside Steve Smith for the first time, as he made a fourth successive half-century in the first innings. And his wicket of Jack Leach was vital. Getty Images

Steve Smith - 9.5. Docked half a point on account of falling short of a century in the second innings. Only made 82. What was he thinking? Getty Images

Travis Head - 4. Like Harris, another who is not living up to expectations at present, with brief stays in both innings, as he made 19 and 14. Getty Images

Matt Wade - 6. Only made 34 in the second innings, but it was a timely counter-punch as he was Smith’s foil in a 105-run stand. Reuters

Tim Paine - 8. Much improved on Headingley – even if his use of DRS is still miles off the mark. Innings of 58 and 23 not out were his best return with the bat in the series. AP Photo

Pat Cummins - 9. The fact he was flogged into the ground by his captain in the second innings was a compliment to his unrelenting excellence. Somehow he still has not got a five-wicket haul in the series. Press Association

Mitch Starc - 7. Maybe short of his best, but he still made the most of the leftovers given to him by Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in the first innings. Press Association

Nathan Lyon - 4. Wicketless in the first innings, and barely threatening when conditions assisted him in the second – although he may have been hindered by an injured spinning finger. Reuters

Josh Hazlewood - 9. Six for 88 in the match, with an economy rate of a tick over two. No wonder the wise old heads in the commentary box were acclaiming him and Cummins as being the equal of any of the best new-ball pairings Australia have had. AFP

Australia successfully retained the Ashes in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday following a 185-run win over England.

There were a few nervy moments after some backs-to-the-wall batting from the England tail, but in the end Australia ran out comfortable and deserved winners.

Australia now have an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series, with just The Oval Test, starting on Thursday, to come. As such, England can still halve the series, but they are unable to regain the Ashes urn.

Reflecting on the Old Trafford Test, Paul Radley offers his take on each performance of the 22 players involved. To see the ratings from the victorious Australia side, click or scroll through the photo gallery above.

To see the ratings from the defeated England side, click or scroll through the photo gallery below: