2-0!
For the second Test in a row, Australia have taken down England by eight wickets to put one hand on a fifth consecutive Ashes urn retention – and this win was comfortably more emphatic than in Perth.
On the back of eight wickets from Mitchell Starc to continue his summer for the ages, a maiden Test five-for for Michael Neser, and five half-centuries – including Starc’s – in a mammoth first innings of 511, the hosts were seldom truly threatened and rarely held at bay for long to continue their utter domination of the tourists on home shores.
Arguably the biggest gap between the two teams, though, was the form of their respective glovemen – while Alex Carey clubbed 63 with the bat and kept spectacularly all Test, pouching superb catches and keeping up to the stumps to the quicks with aplomb, Jamie Smith’s time in Brisbane was a miserable one, dropping catches and mustering just four runs in two innings.
Here are The Roar’s player ratings for the second Ashes Test.
Australia
Travis Head – 5
Head’s first Test in Australia as a full-time opener wasn’t as spectacular as his heroics in Perth, but the South Australian did the job he was promoted for to get the team off to a bright start in both innings.
Barring a slow start on Day 2 when he was lucky to survive being dropped by Jamie Smith for just 3, Head batted with his usual gusto – but scores of 33 and 22 won’t satisfy his appetite for big scores, undone by his own aggressive instincts in both innings.
It’s hard to imagine he won’t remain at the top of the order for the foreseeable future – bad news for Usman Khawaja, regardless of whether he overcomes his back injury for Adelaide.
Jake Weatherald – 8
Weatherald’s Day 2 72 was as comfortable as any Australian opener has looked on home shores in years.
The Tasmanian even outstripped Head’s scoring clip as he ruthlessly pounced on anything short or wide, bringing up his maiden Test half-century at run-a-ball pace and cruising to 72 before at last falling.
Wasn’t much slower in the second innings, but huge hitting from Head and Steve Smith at the other end left him with little to do – though being unbeaten on 17 when victory was sealed will be a nice little confidence-booster to go with having surely locked up his spot for the remainder of the series.
Marnus Labuschagne – 7.5
Picked up right where he left off at Optus Stadium with a fluent half-century in Australia’s first innings, looking every inch the form player in the country he has been for much of the summer.
Having seen his strike rate plummet last summer, this was the Marnus of old – driving crisply and pulling handsomely, he looked on course for a first Test century in more than two years before edging a cut behind.
Couldn’t have done much about the brutal lifter he copped from Gus Atkinson in the second innings that cost him the chance to be there for the winning runs for the second straight Test.
Gets bonus points for the brilliant catch he took at backward point to end England’s first innings, even if it probably finishes as only the fourth or fifth-best catch of the match.
Steve Smith (c) – 8
With the bat, in the field and as captain, Smith led by example in what will likely be his final Test before handing the reins back over to Pat Cummins.
Wasn’t always comfortable at slip against the pink ball, particularly in the evening and night sessions, but a supremely difficult chance early on Day 1 to reprieve Joe Root was his only flaw – one more than made up for by the one-handed screamer that ended Will Jacks and Ben Stokes’ frustrating stand on Day 4.
While streakier with the bat than most of his fellow top-order batters, Smith still made it to 61 at a brisk pace in the first innings, while he surely delighted in the savagery of his final-evening takedown of Jofra Archer, first sledging the England quick then tonking him for boundaries galore en route to a game-sealing nine-ball 23.
There can’t be too many more satisfying ways to end a Test than by thumping a six for the winning runs.
Cameron Green – 6
The all-rounder still looks well short of his best with the ball, but Green looked significantly improved from his efforts in Perth on Day 1 despite unimpressive figures, getting the old ball to talk and regularly challenging the outside edge.
With the bat, it was a typical story for the Western Australian: in excellent nick early with a series of gorgeous cover drives, he threw away the start – and a half-century – with a shot somehow worse than anything any Englishman played for the match.
Alex Carey (wk) – 9.5
“I have not seen a better keeping display or a braver keeping display,” proclaimed former Australian gloveman Brad Haddin on Triple M – and he wasn’t lying.
The South Australian wasn’t just faultless with the gloves: he did it while frequently coming up to the stumps for Neser and Boland’s not inconsiderable pace, with his keeping on Day 1, highlighted by several bouncers taken perfectly above his head, genuinely jaw-dropping.
Took some screamers, too, and while racing back to claim a stunning AFL-style ‘mark’ despite a collision with Labuschagne on the first night was the highlight, his grab up to the stumps off Neser to remove Stokes on Day 4 only sits behind it because of how easy he made it look.
Rode his luck with the bat to put on 63 in quick time and tire the English quicks before the tail wagged.
Just about the perfect test for a wicketkeeper-batter – Carey is surely now the premier gloveman in world cricket.
Josh Inglis – 5
Earns a pass mark just for the outstanding bit of fielding that saw Ben Stokes run out on the first evening – one of the Test’s most important flashpoints.
Brought in for Usman Khawaja as part of a batting-order reshuffle, Inglis was certainly a marked improvement in the field, saving runs aplenty at cover point with diving saves; but his batting was the definition of streaky, regularly sending airy cut shots just wide of the slips cordon before being cleaned up by Stokes for 23.
It’d be a surprise if he didn’t hold his spot for Adelaide, but the regular wicketkeeper will need to lift to entrench himself in the team, especially given any chance of taking the gloves full time has evaporated with Carey’s sensastional form.
Michael Neser – 7
Controversially recalled for Nathan Lyon as part of a four-man seam attack, the veteran’s Day 1 toil did little to suggest that was the right decision – while not terrible, he was handled relatively comfortably by England’s batters and managed just one wicket in 14 overs.
Things turned in the second innings after a sloppy start – twin gifted caught-and-bowleds from Crawley and Pope opened the door for England’s collapse on the fourth evening, while he’d finish the innings with a five-for after taking out both set batters in Stokes and Jacks on Day 4, albeit with help from Smith and Carey’s fine catching.
With Pat Cummins and Lyon set to return in Adelaide, the 35-year old may never play another Test: but a maiden five-wicket haul at his Gabba home is a pretty good way to bow out if that proves to be the case.
Mitchell Starc – 9.5
The clear and obvious player of the match, for the second Test in a row – and the new most prolific left-arm quick in Test history.
Far and away the pick of Australia’s quicks on Day 1, Starc’s six-for, adding to his collection of first-over scalps by nicking off Duckett along the way, all but single-handedly held England to a below-par 334 despite Root’s heroics.
Remarkably, went on to top score in Australia’s first innings, too, with his beautifully compiled 77 not only helping the hosts post a game-winning 511, but holding out for more than 34 overs to ensure he and the quicks got to bowl at England in the tricky night session.
Added the wicket of Root in the second innings to complete another magnificent match – with 18 wickets at 14 (double the next-most) and a batting average of 44.5, he might have Player of the Series honours wrapped up already.
Scott Boland – 6
Against England at least, the Victorian is becoming a second-innings specialist – after producing a second consecutive toothless Day 1 bowling performance, save for a beauty to skittle Smith, Boland roared back by castling Duckett with his first over on Day 3, then followed soon after with a brilliant spell to remove Brook.
In between, his critical 65-run stand with Starc, contributing 21, helped Australia take an iron grip on the match, showing a temperament and stoic defence of far greater calibre than many of England’s specialist batters.
Brendan Doggett – 3
Terrible figures in England’s first innings – 1/81 off 15.2 overs at more than five an over – don’t quite do Doggett justice, but it’s clear the second-Test quick isn’t the short-ball enforcer team balance needed him to be at the Gabba.
Both his wickets for the match were tailenders, with his pace not sharp enough to worry the England top order even when they pitched it up; his highlight was probably the 13 he scored with the bat to secure the the highest lowest score in a completed innings in Test history.
Almost certain to make way for Lyon and Cummins’ return in Adelaide; will he get another go at the top level?
England
Zak Crawley – 7
Herein lies the conundrum of Crawley – after a nightmarish pair in the first Test, the much-maligned opener was one of only two English batters in Brisbane to be able to head to Adelaide with head held high.
His crisp driving and willingness to back his strengths against Australia’s bowling attack not only put the hosts on the back foot on the first day, but allowed Root time to settle and build his innings.
Was genuinely unlucky to feather an under edge on 76 that probably cost him a second Ashes century, while the second innings was Crawley in a nutshell: another exhibition of textbook driving brought undone by chipping a return catch to Michael Neser, having watched Ollie Pope succumb to the same fate five minutes earlier.
The kind of match that neither vindicates his supporters nor placates his detractors.
Ben Duckett – 2.5
Two low scores from the usually reliable opener made the second Test a tough one for Duckett – but the deliveries he got, a beautiful first-ball outswinger from Mitchell Starc on Day 1 and a vicious shooter from Scott Boland on the third evening, were two of the best balls of the match.
Still, this was his equal-lowest-scoring Test featuring two completed innings since returning to the team three years ago; while he loses further marks for his first-ball drop of Carey on Night 2, which probably cost England a hundred runs.
Ollie Pope – 2
The under-fire No.3’s time in Brisbane was perfectly summed up on Day 1, when Pope made Mark Waugh look like Nostradamus by chopping on for a duck mere seconds after being derided as ‘just a player’ on Triple M.
Ricky Ponting also tore into the 27-year old for not ‘playing by the rules’ at the Gabba pushing too hard at Starc, advice that was proved to have fallen on deaf ears as Pope wildly threw the bat at everything that moved in the third night session, making as shambolic a 26 as you could imagine before a Neser return catch at last put him out of his misery.
One of Bazball’s prodigies, an average of 35 after 63 Tests – one halved when he faces Australia – is an accurate reflection of his ability at the top level.
Joe Root – 8
The one good thing to come out of this Ashes so far for England is Root at last taking the Australian monkey off his back.
The veteran’s brilliant, unbeaten 138 was a masterclass of discipline and patience, traits his teammates would do well to mimic – using the vast expanses of the Gabba to good effect, driving confidently and pulling nimbly, he was the sole reason the tourists’ first innings total landed on the verge of being competitive.
No wicket was more prized on the third evening than Root feathering an edge behind off Starc – there comes a point where even the greats can’t do it all alone.
Harry Brook – 4
On The Final Word, Geoff Lemon cast Brook as ‘the stupidest good cricketer I’ve seen’ – which pretty much nails the rising star’s time at the Gabba.
Threw away a promising start on Day 1 by recklessly flashing at the first ball of a new Starc spell to expose his teammates to the perils of the fading light just when it seemed like England had taken control.
Then, two days later, what was his answer to the DRS sparing him from being given out caught behind? Carelessly pushing once again at Boland to feather the edge he’d been lucky to miss the ball before.
Brook has for so long been the embodiment of Bazball’s success – this summer thus far, he’s embodied its failure.
Ben Stokes (c) – 6.5
The captain’s gutsy, patient 50 on the third evening and fourth afternoon was as antithetical to Bazball as we’ve seen from England this series – and together with Will Jacks, gave the tourists brief hope of a miracle.
However, the fighting knock was only the last stand of a so-near-yet-so-far Test for Stokes, who ran himself out on the first evening at a crucial stage, then bowled far more waywardly than his figures of 3/113 suggest, while his captaincy, particularly against Australia’s tail on Day 3, looked bereft of any answers.
Australia have got used to match-turning performances from the star all-rounder – but there was no magic at the Gabba from the skipper, who even had to wear a brutal blow … down there … for his troubles.
Jamie Smith (wk) – 0.5
What’s the only thing worse than having an utter nightmare? Watching on as your opposite number puts on a clinic too.
Scores of 0 and 4 for England’s bright new wicketkeeping talent, rissoled by a Boland nip-backer on Night 1 and wafting with no footwork at Starc on Night 3 (then burning a review just for good measure), are only one part of the horror show that was Smith’s first trip to the Gabba.
The nadir was the straightforward drop of Head early in Australia’s innings that sucked the life out of a promising England start with the ball – throw in another reprieve for Carey in the night session, and the wicketkeeper embodied the tourists’ dreadful fielding effort that cost them any chance of keeping Australia within reach.
At least Jonny Bairstow made runs …
Will Jacks – 7
Coming in amid a disastrous England collapse in the third night session, the all-rounder, together with Stokes, batted with good sense and a tight defence to blunt Australia’s attack for 37 overs – more than the tourists’ entire innings in both stints in Perth.
Was arguably underbowled in Australia’s first innings, challenging the tail with good dip and spin despite being given just 11.3 overs – and of course, deserves a bonus point for a stunning one-handed catch to remove Smith on the second evening … only for the Aussie captain to bite back with an equally spectacular snare on Day 4.
Gus Atkinson – 3.5
Became the first man born in England to take a wicket this series when he coaxed an edge out of Carey early on Day 3, while his figures gained respectability with a pair of wickets in Australia’s rapid second-innings surge to victory.
But while Atkinson again bowled reasonably without much luck, he joins a long list of England seamers to have limited success on Australian shores.
Loses half a mark for his feckless pull shot to lose his wicket on Day 4, having seemingly watched Stokes and Jacks’ three-hour exercise in defiance and thought that level of application and grit was beneath him.
Brydon Carse – 4
It’s probably a good thing Carse finished Australia’s first innings with only four wickets to his name – that means it will be quickly forgotten, rather than entering the annals as arguably the worst five-for in Ashes history.
Bowled every bit as loosely as an economy of 5.24 an over would suggest, while his wickets were either unsuccessful heaves into the deep (Head, Smith and Starc) or brain explosions (Green backing away and exposing all three stumps).
Loses further points for joining England’s procession of dropped catches with a spilled sitter at cover on the second evening, and for yet more insipid lower-order batting from a man with a Test half-century to his name.
Jofra Archer – 5
Archer’s hostile spell in Australia’s second innings was, depending on who you ask, either a sign England’s fastest bowler was willing to fight it out to the end – or an indictment on his significantly slower, far more lacklustre efforts in their first innings.
From the moment he was denied Head’s wicket by Smith’s mistake early on Day 2, Archer lacked his usual menace, save for a pinpoint yorker to deny Weatherald a maiden century.
As an added insult, he has now bowled more balls to Steve Smith than anyone in Test cricket to have never dismissed him. No wonder he got champed.
Deserves kudos, however, for his spirited batting, whacking 38 off just 32 balls to add 70 in quick time with Joe Root and take England past 300 in their first innings, which all too briefly seemed like a competitive total.
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