England Ashes Report Card : The Post-Mortem

Well, that was painful wasn’t it? 4 years of planning, 10 tests against the world’s best downgraded to ‘Ashes prep’ and they surrender the urn after just 12 days of play. Not until the final innings of the series did England ever have the upper-hand. And then, just when there was a glimmer of hope, it was crushed in the most emphatic manner possible - losing all 10 for just 56 runs. The batting stats speak for themselves, particularly when compared to last time out in 2017/18, two series between which England were supposed to undergo a revolution in batting big : the current England side managed just 9 half-centuries across the series, barely half that of four years ago, and averaged a collective 19 runs per wicket compared to 28 on the previous tour. Here I rate the efforts of this current crop, ranging from the unpickable to a handful that leave with an enhanced reputation, or at least not a damaged one.

Rory Burns - 77 runs @ 12.83

Haseeb Hameed - 80 runs @ 10

Any hope of that fabled ‘big first-innings total’ begins with the openers. Unfortunately for England, theirs have been so bad as to be relegated to a tier all by themselves. A series of dismissals bordering on comical - namely Burns’ first ball masterpiece at the Gabba, Hameed’s chip to mid-wicket in Scott Boland’s first test over and even the first-innings run out at Hobart - saw them muster just one 30+ score across 14 innings. As rumours of Sibley’s return and a call-up for Alex Lees gather pace, you can’t help but wonder if their time is up, at least for now. 1/10

Last summer’s success will feel a long time ago for Burns and Hameed

bbc.co.uk

Zak Crawley - 166 runs @ 27.66

Called into the side for Boxing Day, Crawley struggled initially against a fearsome new ball spell but showed his class at Sydney scoring 77 of England’s first 96 runs. Across the last two tests he managed to string together 4 straight double-figure scores, an enviable return for recent England openers, unfortunately the fact that this appears impressive is either testament to the quality of Australia’s bowling or, more likely, England’s dreadful performance. 6/10

Dawid Malan - 244 runs @ 24.4

Following back-to-back 80+ scores in the first two tests, Malan tailed off dramatically managing just 56 runs in the last three. By the end he looked flat and exhausted, his strokes lacking any conviction although Malan should be cut some slack, after several months away culminated in missing his daughter’s birth - showing the dangers of life as a professional sportsman. 5.5/10

Joe Root - 322 runs @ 32.2; 5 wkts @ 46.8

Yet another Ashes series goes by without a Joe Root hundred, after 14 matches down under he has 9 fifties but no century. Root showed glimpses of his class and reached 20 in 7 of his 10 innings but a few lapses of judgement and some high quality bowling was enough to prevent him kicking on. The end was particularly fitting : a classy 30 amid an impending collapse, ending with a grubber and a wry smile as doubts over his future remain. For now at least, the captaincy is his, if only through lack of alternatives but there are signs that, just as with Cook before him, the pressures of the job may become too much. 6.5/10

Ben Stokes - 236 runs @ 23.6; 4 wkts @ 71.5

That Stokes managed to survive the full series is remarkable in itself : returning after a long absence he appeared hobbled after a substantial bowling effort at the Gabba but remained England’s enforcer until straining his side in Sydney, even then managing two sixties in the game. However, while his efforts were commendable, Stokes will have expected more from himself and after opting out of the IPL will hope to return to full fitness soon and return to his dominance of 2019-20. 5/10

Ollie Pope - 67 runs @ 11.16

Pope, often thought of as the English game’s brightest young talent, was tipped by many to have a resurgent series as Australian pitches bear similarities to his home ground, the Oval, where he averages over 90. However, it was not meant to be, as Pope rarely seemed comfortable. England are now left with a dilemma, as Pope is simply too good at county level yet can’t transfer that to the test arena. 1/10

Jos Buttler - 107 runs @ 15.28

It was a roller-coaster series for Buttler, beginning with a number of excellent catches interspersed with some terrible drops. He then fought for 207 balls only to step on his stumps with a draw within reach. This strangeness continued to Sydney where a blow to the finger left him virtually unable to bat, only for Buttler to survive 38 deliveries and help salvage a draw before being sent home. Should this be the last chapter for Jos Buttler, the test cricketer, it was a fitting series for a career that never quite got going. 3/10

Jonny Bairstow - 194 runs @ 48.5

Brought back into the middle-order once again, Bairstow had little chance to impress at Melbourne, being left with only the tail in each innings, but seized his opportunity with both hands in the fourth test. Well-supported by Stokes, he registered England’s sole century of the series before eating up 105 balls on the final day to secure a face-saving draw. Time will tell if this is another false dawn for Bairstow, but for now his return holds promise. 8.5/10

Jonny Bairstow celebrates England’s only century of the series

abc.net.au

Sam Billings - 30 runs @ 15

It’s harsh for Billings, after a long wait and a long drive, to have his debut muddied by such an abject display, but for much of the game he showed genuine promise. He kept well throughout, and while his technique may have been moulded with a white-ball, there was a refreshing conviction to both his stroke-play and his thoughts from behind the stumps. In a crowded field of wicket-keepers, this may well end up as Billings’ only test but he’ll just be happy to be in with a chance. 4/10

Chris Woakes - 146 runs @ 24.33; 6 wkts @ 55.33

Heading into this series, there were expectations that Woakes may finally get over the hill and prove himself as an overseas performer. His 50-over prowess had supposedly granted him the coveted ‘extra yard’ along with useful skills for the flat decks down under. Sadly, it was not to be as Woakes rarely seemed threatening while also leaking runs at an alarming rate. Although he was unfortunate at times and continued to contribute with the bat, Woakes may well have played his last overseas test. 4/10

Mark Wood - 86 runs @ 10.75; 17 wkts @ 26.64

A rare bright spot for England, Wood’s enthusiasm and effort often went unnoticed across the first four tests as the numbers didn’t fully represent his contributions but he finally got his reward at Hobart with his best test figures. The way Wood bowled was massively impressive, troubling the world’s best in Smith and Labuschagne and maintaining his pace throughout four tests. Sadly, he was the sole part of England’s plans which succeeded, leaving a sense of what might have been. 9/10

Wood’s efforts shone through in spite of England’s struggles

bbc.co.uk

Ollie Robinson - 38 runs @ 5.42; 11 wkts @ 25.54

It was a strange series for Robinson as his performance ranged from McGrath-esque to a poor Graeme Swann impersonation and finally the injury debacle of Hobart. Although it remains impressive for someone to look so at home after just 9 tests, his fitness raises legitimate concerns about his future while Robinson’s batting has been disappointing for someone considered capable of batting at number eight. 6/10

Jack Leach - 51 runs @ 12.75; 6 wkts @ 53.5

A forgettable series for the man holding the unenviable position of England’s first-choice spinner. Harsh though it may seem, this was always likely to be a step too far for Leach - picked at some of the least spin-friendly grounds, against a number of left-handers and no runs on the board, any spinner would have struggled. While he remains England’s best spinner it would certainly be on-brand were Leach to be discarded in favour of an investment in the youngsters Bess and Parkinson. 2/10

Stuart Broad - 42 runs @ 14; 13 wkts @ 26.3

Another defiant performance from England’s angry brothers : Broad and Bairstow. Written off by many after missing two of the first three games, Broad roared back with a five-fer in Sydney and a couple of strong showings in Hobart helped him finish the series as England’s second highest wicket-taker. While his future remains uncertain as England again look to build a cohort of quicks, Broad’s fire is still more than impressive. 7.5/10

James Anderson - 13 runs @ 6.5; 8 wkts @ 23.37

Left out to start and end the series, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker still put in a strong performance on some flat wickets. While he was often criticised for bowling too short, perhaps leading to his low wicket tally, Anderson maintained constant control with an economy rate of just 1.79 and with a stronger team performance around him would likely have made a greater impact. 7/10