• Cameron Bancroft (5/10): Failed to bring his county batting form into his first game back for his country, but redeemed his match with a short-leg masterclass on the last day. Reuters
    Cameron Bancroft (5/10): Failed to bring his county batting form into his first game back for his country, but redeemed his match with a short-leg masterclass on the last day. Reuters
  • David Warner (3/10): At least he did a decent line in humour, showing his pockets to the supporters who were goading him about having sandpaper. His batting was forgettable. Reuters
    David Warner (3/10): At least he did a decent line in humour, showing his pockets to the supporters who were goading him about having sandpaper. His batting was forgettable. Reuters
  • Usman Khawaja (6/10): Played a part in Australia’s fightback with 40 in the second innings, as the touring side cut away England’s 90-run lead. AFP
    Usman Khawaja (6/10): Played a part in Australia’s fightback with 40 in the second innings, as the touring side cut away England’s 90-run lead. AFP
  • Steve Smith (9.5/10): Dropped a catch right at the end, when the game was all but won anyway. For the rest of the time, he was more or less perfect. Reuters
    Steve Smith (9.5/10): Dropped a catch right at the end, when the game was all but won anyway. For the rest of the time, he was more or less perfect. Reuters
  • Travis Head (7/10): Innings of 35 and 51 were far from headline acts, but the left-hander did enough to show why he is highly regarded in Australia. Reuters
    Travis Head (7/10): Innings of 35 and 51 were far from headline acts, but the left-hander did enough to show why he is highly regarded in Australia. Reuters
  • Matthew Wade (8/10): A first Test century in six years in the second innings quelled the doubts that he must have had after his brief stay in the first innings. AFP
    Matthew Wade (8/10): A first Test century in six years in the second innings quelled the doubts that he must have had after his brief stay in the first innings. AFP
  • Tim Paine (6/10): Appeared to allow his predecessor Smith to direct operations for some of the game, but the captain will not be complaining if his side keeps performing like this. Getty Images
    Tim Paine (6/10): Appeared to allow his predecessor Smith to direct operations for some of the game, but the captain will not be complaining if his side keeps performing like this. Getty Images
  • James Pattinson (6/10): Had more effect with bat than ball in his first Test back after a lengthy spell out, but Australia will be cheered by how he performed. Reuters
    James Pattinson (6/10): Had more effect with bat than ball in his first Test back after a lengthy spell out, but Australia will be cheered by how he performed. Reuters
  • Pat Cummins (7/10): The world’s No 1 ranked Test bowler was a constant threat, once he got a nervy first spell out of the way on Day 2. Reuters
    Pat Cummins (7/10): The world’s No 1 ranked Test bowler was a constant threat, once he got a nervy first spell out of the way on Day 2. Reuters
  • Peter Siddle (7/10): Played a pivotal role in salvaging the game for Australia after coming to the wicket at 122 for eight on Day 1, and his bowling was typically tidy. AP Photo
    Peter Siddle (7/10): Played a pivotal role in salvaging the game for Australia after coming to the wicket at 122 for eight on Day 1, and his bowling was typically tidy. AP Photo
  • Nathan Lyon (9/10): If he continues like this he might be ending a few more careers. Delivered just when he was required to in the second innings with six wickets. Reuters
    Nathan Lyon (9/10): If he continues like this he might be ending a few more careers. Delivered just when he was required to in the second innings with six wickets. Reuters

Cricket

Steve Smith tops Ashes player ratings after Australia beat England in first Test

Paul Radley evaluates the performances of the 22 players who competed in the series opener at Edgbaston

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

August 05, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

In the highly-anticipated opening match of the 2019 Ashes series, it was Australia who came out on top against England, defeating their arch-rivals by 251 runs in a match that was evenly contested for four of the five days at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following this contest, Paul Radley provides his player ratings – no prizes for guessing how Steve Smith will have fared. For the Australia player ratings, browse through the photo gallery above, and for the England player ratings, take a look at the photo gallery below.

  • Rory Burns (8/10): Rode his luck as he played and missed more than 40 times in the first innings. But a maiden Test century on Ashes debut is not to be sniffed at. AFP
    Rory Burns (8/10): Rode his luck as he played and missed more than 40 times in the first innings. But a maiden Test century on Ashes debut is not to be sniffed at. AFP
  • Jason Roy (4/10): Should really be in minus figures for charging past one when trying to save the game. Needs to get his head round Test cricket fast. Getty Images
    Jason Roy (4/10): Should really be in minus figures for charging past one when trying to save the game. Needs to get his head round Test cricket fast. Getty Images
  • Joe Root (5/10): Another unconverted half century in the first innings let Australia off the hook. If he’d made it big, the game could have been England’s. AFP
    Joe Root (5/10): Another unconverted half century in the first innings let Australia off the hook. If he’d made it big, the game could have been England’s. AFP
  • Joe Denly (4/10): Protected by Root leapfrogging him in the batting order, but it had little effect as Denly made 18 and 11 in the match. Getty Images
    Joe Denly (4/10): Protected by Root leapfrogging him in the batting order, but it had little effect as Denly made 18 and 11 in the match. Getty Images
  • Jos Buttler (2/10): Edgbaston was thought of as England’s fortress, but Buttler must hate playing there. Innings of five and one were the latest in a poor run for him at the ground. Getty Images
    Jos Buttler (2/10): Edgbaston was thought of as England’s fortress, but Buttler must hate playing there. Innings of five and one were the latest in a poor run for him at the ground. Getty Images
  • Ben Stokes (7/10): The knighthood will have to wait, but he showed again why he is the darling of the Barmy Army with a fine first-innings 50 and a bowling effort full of heart. Getty Images
    Ben Stokes (7/10): The knighthood will have to wait, but he showed again why he is the darling of the Barmy Army with a fine first-innings 50 and a bowling effort full of heart. Getty Images
  • Jonny Bairstow (3/10): Two single-figure scores in the match, and messy with the gloves, too. It is not a new thing, either. His Test form has been a worry for some time now. Getty Images
    Jonny Bairstow (3/10): Two single-figure scores in the match, and messy with the gloves, too. It is not a new thing, either. His Test form has been a worry for some time now. Getty Images
  • Moeen Ali (3/10): Bowled the perfect off-break to get rid of Tim Paine in the second innings. The rest of his game? Ouch. PA Wire
    Moeen Ali (3/10): Bowled the perfect off-break to get rid of Tim Paine in the second innings. The rest of his game? Ouch. PA Wire
  • Chris Woakes (7/10): It was concerning for England that Woakes showed the best aptitude of any of their batsmen on the last day, despite coming in at No 9. AFP
    Chris Woakes (7/10): It was concerning for England that Woakes showed the best aptitude of any of their batsmen on the last day, despite coming in at No 9. AFP
  • Stuart Broad (7/10): His place was under threat before this series, with the emergence of Jofra Archer and Sam Curran, but he showed that he is England’s Ashes talisman with a five-for. PA Wire
    Stuart Broad (7/10): His place was under threat before this series, with the emergence of Jofra Archer and Sam Curran, but he showed that he is England’s Ashes talisman with a five-for. PA Wire
  • James Anderson (2/10): Managed just four overs with the ball, then succumbed to the calf injury that had dogged his build up to the series. It cost England badly. AFP
    James Anderson (2/10): Managed just four overs with the ball, then succumbed to the calf injury that had dogged his build up to the series. It cost England badly. AFP
CricketAustraliaAustralia CricketEngland Cricket