: Edgbaston player ratings for Australia’s underperforming stars

The Ashes 2015: Edgbaston player ratings for Australia’s underperforming stars
8 HOURS AGO AUGUST 01, 2015 4:51PM


Michael Clarke not going anywhere

BELIEVE it or not, there were some positive signs to emerge from Australia’s eight-wicket demise to England at Edgbaston.
Pass marks were certainly hard to come by but David Warner, Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill could all hold their heads high amid the turmoil.
They were the exception rather than the rule though. A horror Test for the tourists is certainly reflected in the player ratings.
David Warner impressed with his second innings 77.

2-1: ASHES SLIPPING AWAY AS AUSSIES HAMMERED

David Warner 7
Batted brilliantly in the second innings and only needed someone to go with him and would have made one of the fastest hundreds in Ashes history. But Australia needs their star to shine in the first dig as well.

Chris Rogers 7
Gutsy effort for Rogers to pad up just a week after suffering dizzy spells from being hit in the head by a Jimmy Anderson bouncer. His reliability in the first innings has been extraordinary this series, if only teammates could learn from how he goes about his business.
Steve Smith had a rare poor game.

Steve Smith 3
Even the best in the world are entitled to a bad game, but Smith will be regretting his careless shot in the second innings. Having built nicely to a 45-run stand with Warner, that was the crucial partnership of the match if Australia were to be any chance.

Michael Clarke 3
To the captain’s credit he has taken the blame for the poor batting performance at Edgbaston. The skipper isn’t hiding from the task that’s ahead of him to turn things around after succumbing to Steve Finn in both innings.
Adam Voges’ form struggles have mirrored those of Michael Clarke.

Adam Voges 3
Just can’t get himself in at the moment and unfortunately it will most likely cost him his Test career. At 35 years of age, Voges can be proud of the way he never gave up on his baggy green dreams and his unforgettable matchwinning hundred on debut against West Indies.

Mitchell Marsh 3
First there were doubts over Marsh as a Test standard bowler, now critics are asking the same questions about his batting. Marsh didn’t look great in this match but deserves a sustained chance to establish himself. Dropping him again for Shane Watson could damage his confidence significantly.
Peter Nevill 8
Selectors made the toughest of calls on Brad Haddin, which inadvertently put pressure on Nevill. The rookie keeper justified the faith with a defining second innings knock, which he can use as the foundation for the rest of his career. Batted longer than anyone else in the match and single-handedly saved Australia the embarrassment of losing a two-day Test.
It was a tough three days at the office for Mitchell Johnson.

Mitchell Johnson 6
Lacked the consistency Australia would have been hoping for, but it wasn’t easy on the bowlers when they are defending totals of 136 and a target of 121. Johnson’s brutal short-pitched spell on day two which saw him storm past 300 wickets was a fitting way for a champion to bring up such a milestone.

Mitchell Starc 6
Bowled poorly but should be spared the axe given the ineptitude of the batsmen. Starc made his fifth Test 50 to at least make England work just a little bit for their victory.

Josh Hazlewood 5
Didn’t have his rhythm all match in conditions where Australia would have been relying on him to have a Jimmy Anderson-type effect. Doesn’t deserve to be dropped because of pressure batsmen put on the bowlers.
Australia’s Edgbaston Test player ratings

Nathan Lyon 7
There is no one the Australian batsmen let down more than Lyon. The classy spinner showed he could have had a field day bowling on a fourth or fifth day wicket, if only Australia had made it that far. Three wickets from his first three overs of the match was special stuff.