Outstanding Travis Head Century Puts Australia Sailing Towards Win Over England
English Team Player Evaluations
Zak Crawley – 1
Tipped for Australian pitches however recorded only the fourth duck in both innings from an England top-order batsman in just 11 balls.
Duckett – 5
Made beginnings during each knock. The way he got out during the match was when it began to unravel for the English side.
Ollie Pope – 6
Seems improved due to adjustments to his technique. The first Test of a series tends to be his best, after which his form dips. The team need him to kick on.
Root – 1
Miles away from his maiden century on Australian soil. The side need the nous of their best player if they are to come back from this.
Brook – 5
His fifty during the initial knock was skittish, but valuable. Poor shot in the follow-on.
Ben Stokes – Six
Came back from injury to take a five-wicket haul, though looked short of rhythm with the bat. Struggled while fielding against Head's aggressive batting.
Jamie Smith – Four
Might possess the game to succeed in Australia, but needs to improve. Will likely face a lot of bouncers from now on.
Gus Atkinson – 5
Part of the impressive English first-innings bowling performance and tried to carry the fight while batting later on. Among the attack that fell apart on Saturday evening.
Carse – Five
Comparable to the previous, with added mustard of getting taken apart by Head.
Archer – Five
Looked awesome while bowling in the first innings and proved the top of a bad bunch in the second. Could still play a key role in the series.
Mark Wood – Five
Went without a wicket, but massively impressive to just take part given his time away.
Australian Team Player Ratings
Jake Weatherald – Six
Debutant was unlucky to face against Archer early on, then played his part in the stunning run chase.
Usman Khawaja – Three
An unusual Test. Appeared fit and had periods off the pitch. Took a couple of key catches in the slips, yet also looked immobile in the cordon. Earns a point due to his injury that allowed Travis Head to open.
Marnus Labuschagne – Seven
An effective comeback to the side. Absorbed England's pressure more effectively than most in the first innings, then backed up Travis Head later.
Smith – 5
Seemed out of sorts early on. Needless before the game attack about Panesar.
Travis Head – 9
Perhaps churlish to not award a perfect score, but he attempted a rather poor stroke in the first innings. His second-innings century was an historic innings.
Cameron Green – 5
Claimed the crucial dismissal of Ollie Pope in the first innings. Shaken by a Wood short ball when he batted. Hardly required later in the match.
Alex Carey – 5
Attempted an aggressive response against England's bowlers early in the match. Neat with the gloves.
Mitchell Starc – 9
Carried the burden of the bowling in the absence of Cummins and Josh Hazlewood achieving the first Aussie Ashes series 10-wicket haul for two decades.
Scott Boland – Six
Short of top form in the first innings. Got better in the second to trigger the England collapse.
Doggett – Six
Solid debut. Quite capable stand-in for the main bowlers and Hazlewood.
Nathan Lyon – Two
Virtually an onlooker in a match dominated by pace. Maybe suffered a knock after being hit by Mark Wood.
Connected Subjects
- English Men's Cricket Team
- Australian Team
- The Ashes
- The Sport
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