Australia v England, 1st Ashes Test – Australia Player Ratings

Hosts Australia kicked off the Ashes 2017 on a positive note, emphatically taking a 1-0 lead with a dominant 10-wicket victory over England at the Gabba. Australia captain Steve Smith fired his side to an impressive victory in Brisbane as England’s hopes of defending the urn were dealt a blow.

Following a slow start, which saw the tourist claim the upper hand for much of the first two days, Australia ultimately romped home on the back of a stellar performance from their captain Steve Smith and flashes of brilliance from the pace attack. Here are the Australia Player Ratings for the match:

David Warner – 7/10

The Australian vice-captain was considered to provide the impetus at the top of the order but ended up cheaply losing his wicket, whipping an innocuous delivery from Jake Ball straight into the hands of mid-wicket. However, the swashbuckling left-hander made amends in the second innings with a destructive fifty in the evening session of day four to pave the course for an Ashes lead.

Cameron Bancroft – 6.5/10

Making his debut in the Ashes, Bancroft would have hoped for a better start. Like Warner, he too misfired in the first innings, edging Stuart Broad behind after only making five, but showed his potential second time around to score an impressive half-century and set up the emphatic win.

Usman Khawaja – 2.5/10

Averaging over 60 at home, Khawaja had to shoulder the responsibilities, after the Aussies top order failed to deliver in the first innings. The Pakistan-born cricketer was expected to steady Australia’s fragile batting but his deficiencies against spin were once again highlighted as he was dismissed by just the second ball he faced off Moeen Ali.

Steve Smith – 9.5/10

Steve Smith redefined leadership with his impeccable charisma and a mouth-watering inning of 141* at the Gabba, which makes him the highest rated Australian on the list. Rescued and set up the game for Australia in a 512 minute Ashes masterclass, twice resuscitating the innings to drag the hosts to a crucial lead. He also managed to take four catches.

Peter Handscomb – 3/10

With a batting stance that places him so far back in his crease, Handscomb is always going to be a target for lbw dismissals. And James Anderson had exactly the right ingredients to exploit that weakness. Anderson kept pushing him onto the backfoot regularly before trapping him plumb in front with a yorker. Handscomb lasted only 17 deliveries, contributing just 14 to the scoreboard.

Shaun Marsh – 7/10

Shaun Marsh did well to reclaim his spot in the Australian side. However, given his true potential, the left-hander could have done more destruction to the English bowlers. He culminated his innings on 51 and provided a crucial 99-run stand with Smith when Australia’s first innings threatened to go off the rails.

Marsh loses a point for putting down an important catch in the deep in England’s first innings and coming within whiskers causing Mitchell Starc serious damage with his boot spikes.

Tim Paine- 6/10

The 32-year-old glovesman made his return to the Aussie side after a surprise call-up, following a gap of 7 years. He was included because he can detect the faintest of edges off the bat like he did of Stuart Broad’s to conjure another dismissal via DRS.

Paine also pulled off a brilliant stumping, albeit controversial to send Moeen Ali on his way when he was threatening to drag the tourists to a defendable total.

Mitchell Starc – 7/10

The left-arm slinger claimed the prized wicket of Alastair Cook in the first innings but was otherwise fairly comfortably dealt with by England’s specialist batsmen. Despite struggling to find a rhythm and appearing in discomfort when bowling, Starc ended with six wickets in the match. Nicknamed ‘the Mop’ he also lived up to his reputation by cleaning up the tail both times

Pat Cummins – 9/10

The injury-prone bowler lived up to the hype, bowling a gem to remove Mark Stoneman to end England’s 125-run second-wicket stand and also claimed the scalp of England specialist Joe Root. His most important contribution was arguably a patient 42 with the willow, dominating a 66-run stand with Smith.

Nathan Lyon – 8.5/10

Picking over 50 wickets in the calendar year, Lyon was Australia’s best bowler at the Gabba. The left-arm orthodox poses the maximum threat to the English batting lineup and they will need to work out how to shut him down if they are going to stand a chance this series.

Josh Hazlewood – 8/10

Likened to Australia legend Glenn McGrath, Hazlewood rarely puts in a bad performance for his side and bowled economically in the first innings before getting his rewards later on in the match. Accounted for three of England’s top order – Alastair Cook, James Vince, and Root – and is expected to enjoy the day-night conditions in Adelaide