Ashes 2017-18: Combined XI of the series

Josh Hazlewood produced the edge off James Anderson’s bat and the ball rested into the gloves of Tim Paine. The crowd erupted, the celebrations started on the ground as Australia completed the 4-0 drubbing of England in Sydney at the SCG. The disappointing series has finally come to an end for England for which they arrived with a lot of promise in October. The five-match Test series was ended with their skipper Joe Root struggling with a viral gastroenteritis bug as he could not come out to bat after lunch on the final day. The similar pattern followed the whole series. England won the toss four times out of five and always had a chance to dominate by batting first on a good pitch. But all the time they collapsed from a comfortable position either on the second morning or late on the first day. The only time when they batted long was in Melbourne on a lifeless wicket with Alastair Cook carrying his bat. For Australia in contrast, there was someone putting their hands up every time there was trouble. Then there was a legend named Steve Smith who absolutely refused to get out in the series. England couldn’t find a way to dismiss him despite setting out of the world filed placings for him. It was a dream series for the Australian captain as he was even compared to the all-time great Don Bradman at times. The bowling attack was also the difference between the two sides with Australians looked like picking a wicket with every delivery. Here we bring you the combined XI of the series: 1. David Warner David Warner of Australia celebrates after reaching his century. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) David Warner started the series poorly at the Gabba by falling into the trap in the first innings at the Gabba. But he soon found his mojo in his next outing in the same game and almost scored a century as Australia chased down 180 odd without losing a wicket. He continued in the same vein then and actually showed his other side of the game as well. His patient match-saving knock at the MCG was hailed by many as he blocked whatever England threw at him. The left-hander finished the series with 441 runs in five matches and eight innings remaining unbeaten once in Brisbane. He could score only a solitary century in Melbourne during the Boxing Day Test on the first day where he was reprieved on 99 as Tom Curran had bowled a no-ball. He also scored three half-centuries to boost up his average to 63. His strike rate of 52.37 was surprising which was very unlike him when compared to his career strike rate of 74.73 in Tests. He would be definitely satisfied with his contribution to the team’s success over the last few weeks. 2. Alastair Cook Alastair Cook of England. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) The most successful opener of England ever Alastair Cook looked a pale shadow of himself in this series apart from his magical innings in Melbourne. He himself agreed of feeling relieved after that knock in the press conference. But his dismissals off Mitchell Starc were somewhat similar to what happened in 2013 while playing against Mitchell Johnson. He failed to plant his front foot in the right place when the ball was pitched up and nicked it behind more often than not. Even Nathan Lyon fluffed him few times only to expose his technique big time. But his heroic knock of 244* in the fourth Test after the urn was relinquished saved him the blushes in this series. He finished with a tally of 376 runs in nine outings at an average of 47 with only a solitary score of more than 50. The only time when he surpassed the 50-run mark, Cook went on play a big innings which prove Australia picking him early played a huge role in them regaining the Ashes. 3. Shaun Marsh Shaun Marsh celebrates after reaching his century. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) This Ashes series proved to be the reviving one for Shaun Marsh as even he believed that this was his last chance at the redemption. He was under immense pressure walking out to bat at the Gabba but got runs there and eased himself in the middle. As the series progressed, he grew in confidence with a timely hundred in the day-night encounter in Adelaide. The century also saved Australia in the first innings and helped them posted a formidable total to dump England. The left-hander had a splendid series and emerged as the second highest run-getter only behind the skipper Steve Smith. He amassed 445 runs in seven innings at an average of 74.16 with two centuries and a couple of half-centuries as well. The highest score of 156 came in Sydney where he looked all but comfortable in the middle not worrying about his place in the side in the near future. 4. Steve Smith (c) Steve Smith of Australia celebrates after reaching his century during day three of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes.. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) There are no words to describe Steve Smith. All the adjectives have been used throughout the series for him as England’s coach admitting to having tried everything to dismiss him. He peaked at the right time for his side and began the series with a fantabulous ton in Brisbane. The juggernaut briefly stopped in Adelaide, the only two innings where he failed to surpass the score of 50. Perth Test brought the best out of him as he scored his career best 239 to regain the urn. A magnificent series it was for the leader of the pack as he looked to be playing on another planet. There was no match for his class and the temperament he showed with a mammoth 687 runs he scored at a jaw-dropping average of 137.40. Smith was the only player to face more than 1000 balls in the series as he finished with 1416 hitting his willow or him leaving it safely. 5. Dawid Malan Dawid Malan of England celebrates after reaching his century during day one. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) The find of the tour for England and may be the only positive Dawid Malan had an excellent series. He looked class apart and with his drives and stonewalling at times as well. It could be argued that he starts very slowly getting off the mark sometimes after facing 30 balls or more. But he makes most of it and plays a long innings. The left-hander faced the fiery pace trio of Australia bravely and showed his character in Perth when England needed the most. The most satisfying part of that knock was he carried on even after the century and converted it into a big one. Malan ended the series sealing his place in the middle order with 383 runs at an average of 42.55. He was also the highest scorer of the series for his side proving his consistency with 3 half-centuries as well. 6. Mitchell Marsh Mitchell Marsh of Australia celebrates after reaching his century. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Mitchell Marsh was included in the team only for the third Test at the expense of Peter Handscomb. The all-rounder made the most of his opportunity much like his elder brother Shaun and has sealed his spot as an all-rounder in the team. He smashed 181 runs in his comeback innings on his home ground in front his family and never looked back. The good form continued as he batted England out of the game with a quickfire 101 in Sydney. Mitch had a brilliant series and was second best in terms of averages in the series. He scored 320 runs at an average of 106.66 in just four outings. Though he failed to take any wicket in the three matches he played sending down 32 overs only. He provided relief to the trio of fast bowlers by bowling short spells in between. He would love to improve his bowling stats though and become a complete all-rounder for Australia. 7. Tim Paine (wk) Tim Paine of Australia celebrates after reaching his half-century. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) The bombshell selection of Tim Paine had left many befuddled before the Ashes started. But the selection panel of Australia must be hailed as they picked the right man for the job. Paine last played for his country in Tests in 2009 in India and was criticised after being picked for a huge series. But he justified his selection by being a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. Paine dropped only one catch in all the five matches and that too on the first day of the series at the Gabba. A total of 25 catches in the series proves his solidity as wicketkeeper and should continue with the team on a long-term basis. With the bat, he was decent enough and mostly came out when his team was in a comfortable position. He played freely most of the times and added 192 runs to his tally in six outings with a solitary half-century. 8. Pat Cummins Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Mark Stoneman. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) The happiest man in the Aussie dressing room should be Pat Cummins who has now played nine Tests on the trot without showing any signs of injury. The bowler restarted his career last year in India and has been impeccable since then. He travelled to Bangladesh after that and now played in all the five Tests in this series which very believed he could. He was the man on the final day for Australia who provided the breakthroughs and put them on the brink of 4-0 victory. Cummins became the highest wicket-taker of the series by scalping four wickets in the final innings. He finished the productive series with 23 wickets at an amazing average of 24.65 sending down out a whopping 197.1 overs which is also maximum of the pace trio. He also scored 166 runs at 41.50 with the bat frustrating England most of the times. His body has supported him well and would want to continue playing the same way for his team. 9. Mitchell Starc Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Alastair Cook. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Mitchell Starc, in a way, emulated Mitchell Johnson in this series creating fears in the minds of England batsmen. He began the series with Cook’s wicket, the delivery which was nicely pitched up and induced an edge off the veteran. Starc also bowled the ball of the century to James Vince in Perth which was the most talked about throughout the series. Most importantly, he cleaned up the tail with utter ease which wagged only once in the series when he was not playing at the MCG. The injury to him denied Australia another whitewash. Starc, despite playing a game less, finished as the second highest wicket-taker of the series. His 22 wickets came at a sensational average of 23.54. He bowled 162.3 overs of fiery pace which at times also crossed the mark of 150 kph. He needs to keep his fitness ahead of the tour to South Africa and would be hoping to create the same havoc in their minds. 10. Nathan Lyon Nathan Lyon. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Nathan Lyon has been the best off-spinner ever played for Australia. He is referred to as G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) of the team. His performance justified the tag given to him as he was able to fluff England batsmen time and again with his wily line and length. The way he spins the ball on a lifeless track has been simply amazing was also the highest wicket-taker in 2017. Lyon finished the series with 21 wickets almost equalling the tally of the pace trio of his team. He kept on chipping in with wickets and consistently performed for his team. The off-spinner bowled the most 260.1 overs in the series and took the responsibility on his shoulders. The workload on him was immense and he did not disappoint his captain putting his hands up more often than not. 11. James Anderson James Anderson of England celebrates taking five wickets. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) James Anderson, the swing king of England, was the only bowler who stood out for the visitors. He toiled hard and bowled relentlessly throughout the series for his team. He was at his best at Adelaide with the pink ball when he made the ball talk and scalped a sensational five-fer. Though he could not script even a single victory for England and should be disappointed. Anderson finished with 17 wickets, the most for England, in the series at an average of 27.82 with no other bowler supporting him. Even in the final Test of this gruelling tour, he was at his very best conceding only 56 runs off the 34 overs he bowled with 11 maidens. He remains the best bowler for England and would be itching to shrug off the times soon from his mind.

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Ashes 2017-18: Combined XI of the series

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