Australia beats England as Mitchell Starc stars with bat and ball and English batsmen fall short again, best players, player ratings

Josh Inglis: Recalled to the XI, Inglis played vital cameo roles. Ben Stokes’ stunning run sent England on a spiral in the first innings, while his strike the following night leveled the hosts after some quick wickets. He is not convinced he will retain his place in Adelaide at a time when Australia may need Beau Webster for extra bowling cover. 6/10

Michael Neser: Neser, the winner of a controversial line-ball call, proved the selectors right with his first-five bag to break England’s belated resistance. Bowling an egoless stump line with the wicketkeeper standing, Neser repaid handsomely with six wickets for the game as well as a crucial knock under the lights. Pat Cummins’ impending return means he is unsure of keeping his place. 8.5/10

Mitchell Starc: It was a banner Test for the champion pacer, who overtook Wasim Akram for the most Test wickets taken by the left-arm fast bowler. Starc’s match-high eight wickets also took him to 15th place on the all-time list, above Harbhajan Singh. He wasn’t as effective in the second innings, but he had an excuse: He top-scored for hours with 77 to give Australia a match-winning lead. 10/10

Scott Boland: A masterful performance from Australian cricket’s cult figure. Boland made significant breakthroughs as Australia attacked with the new ball on the third night, removing Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. His most important contribution came with the bat, which he lifted the tail end of to effectively put England out of the game. Will the selectors rest him in Adelaide for Boxing Day? 7/10

Brendan Doggett: Just two wickets for the second player, who was given the unsuitable role of Australian enforcer when the pink ball lost its luster and firmness. He had problems with penetration at times, but he will have learned a lot from his first two matches on the green field. 5/10

England

Zak Crawley: The opening is a Bazball curiosity. Crawley, who was chosen to set the tone for the innings, completed the task with 76 and 44 but more was needed. Australia take advantage of Crawley’s love of boundaries by placing a sweeper, so his good shots are only singles. Orthodox Test batting requires you to take the single, but he doesn’t. Until we change this mentality, he will continue to be a laughing stock. 7/10

Ben Duckett: The dynamic opener was shocking. We don’t hold his golden globe and 15 against him. He hit the ball well. This happens. It was on the field that he let himself down, dropping two catches that should have been taken at Test level. Delaying Alex Carey’s first ball proved costly. A match-changing collapse under the lights was on the cards. Carey made 63 and the moment was lost. 1/10

Ollie Papa: England’s number 3 has no sustainable game in Australian conditions. He moves away from her body with rough hands. This is a recipe for disaster. A cut and a return catch are, let’s be honest, slight dismissals for a top-flight player who needs to bat at five. Taking his chance on three average results, Pope is in danger of being terrified unless he can suppress his impulses. 1/10

Joe Root: The England great has finally pulled off his first Test century on Australian soil, but another drought continues. Root’s ton on the first day averted complete disaster for his team. Coming to the crease in the third over of the game, Root got rid of the new ball and protected his head while his teammates lost their headers. Mitchell Starc caught him again in the second inning. He will still play in the 16-match Test win in Australia. 7.5/10

Harry Brook: The young gun represents the brainless Bazball. His extravagant move on England’s first night at the top was completely unnecessary and undid his team’s hours of hard work to recover from a poor start. Brook is a precocious talent who must decide whether he will be Flash Harry or a heavy-duty Test player. 2.5/10

Ben Stokes: A frustrating match for the skipper, who had some blues with the bat and his captaincy, but also led by example, digging in for almost four hours for Australia to earn the win. Stokes was responsible for the game-changing escape on the first night. Their lack of imagination and reluctance to attack Mitchell Starc allowed Australia to put them out of the game. The pressure is mounting and his patience is tested. 6/10

Jamie Smith: The goalkeeper had a howl. His introduction of Travis Head changed the tone of Australia’s innings, allowing the hosts to get off to a great start. With his mind confused by the drop and the loud crowd providing him with constant feedback, Smith did not attempt a nick at first slip, diving next to the keeper and forcing the fall. I didn’t do anything with the stick. 0/10

Will Jack: Picked to bolster England’s batting depth, Jacks did what was asked of him with a dogged knock of 41 at No.8. He bowled just 11.3 overs, which raises questions about whether it is appropriate for England to use such a setup when conditions call for a greater spin presence. 5.5/10

Gus Atkinson: I don’t mind this guy. Atkinson continued to push in difficult conditions and bowled unluckily. We should have sent Alex Carey off, but the goalkeeper should not have tried to catch the goal. He has only taken three wickets in this series, but he is good enough to make a serious impact somewhere. 4/10

Brydon Carse: Don’t let his bowling numbers fool you, he was in terrible shape. Carse was viciously attacked by an Australian batting line-up unwilling to allow him to settle. It became clear that Carse was unable to bowl on one side of the field, let alone group enough balls in the same area. To his credit, he fought his way back with a bumper barrage that may have been his best MO from here on out. 2/10

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Jofra Archer: The speed demon is at its best when fresh, but cannot maintain its rapid speed during the second, third, and fourth spells. Australia knows this and are happy to see him out. He has played very little first-class cricket in the last six years, so Ben Stokes can’t get too angry at him for his pace dropping. His rivalry with Steve Smith reached a fever pitch as he bested Travis Head in an entertaining duel. Get some valuable runs on the first night. 4.5/10

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