Here are our player ratings for the Melbourne contest:
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England
Ben Duckett – 6 – Surely he would have been happy to return to the field after a difficult time off it. Another cross-field dismissal in the first innings, but it got England going in the second.
Zak Crawley – 6 – Another England opener under pressure who did well to get them going in the second innings. A score is still needed in what will likely be more traditional conditions in Sydney.
Jacob Bethel – 6 – He justified his selection with a secured 40 in the second innings that would surely have been beyond Ollie Pope. It will be interesting to see him get a chance on a flat field.
Joe Root – 3 – He squatted in the first innings but fought back for 15 in the second innings to ensure Australia did not go on a roll. He seems to be lacking pace since that epic hundred in Brisbane.
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Harry Brook – 7 – The swashbuckling 41 in the first innings was the biggest knock of the match. It may be infuriating, but it has a touch of genius.
Ben Stokes – 7 – Big runs in the first innings and stepped up with the ball when Gus Atkinson was injured. He deserves it for everything he has given to England.
Jamie Smith – 4 – An improved glove game that could have been even better if it wasn’t so deep. Has anyone in England’s backroom mentioned it?
Will Jacks – 2 – He didn’t bowl, only batted once and dropped a catch, but I can say he was part of a rare England victory in Australia.
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Gus Atkinson – 6 – His best performance of the series, which could now be cruelly ended by a hamstring problem. Much better with the ball and crucial runs at the end of the first day.
Brydon Carse – 7 – He started slowly with the ball, then improved to produce his best display of the series on the second morning. He gets an extra mark for the audacity of batting at number three.
Josh’s Tongue – 7 – Sublime on the first day by getting five wickets, including his bunny Steve Smith. Going to be in England’s first choice attack whenever he is fit. Named player of the match.
Australia
Jake Weatherald – 2 – He has not looked Test quality since his maiden half-century in Brisbane. It should have been a weakness that England exploited while the series was alive.
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Travis Head – 6 – He started the week on the front page of the Herald Sun, pictured with his family in front of a Christmas tree. He has a poor record at the MCG but managed the highest score of the match.
Marnus Labuschagne – 2 – He fought in the conditions. Another Australian batsman regressing and struggling to justify his retirement.
Steve Smith – 5 – Left without teammates in the second inning, he continued as Josh Tongue’s bunny in the first. You get one point for correctly predicting how difficult it would be to bat in this match.
Usman Khawaja – 4 – He batted for a relatively long time in the first innings, scoring quickly, then ducked in the second. Will Sydney be the last test of his career?
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Alex Carey – 4 – Quiet game with the bat for one of the Australian players in the series. He is still excellent with gloves.
Green Cameron – 4 – Twice he came out, twice he found a way to get out, first with a run and then with a bad shot. Slowly lowering the order. He could soon finish as number 12.
Michael Neser – 7 – Australia’s best player in the first innings with both bat and ball, although could be vulnerable if Sydney are flat.
Mitchell Starc – 4 – You would have expected to feast under such favorable conditions, only to have an eerily quiet game. Ben Duckett’s fall proved vital.
Jhye Richardson – 3 – Used sporadically on his return to Test cricket – a four-year wait for two days of action.
Scott Boland – 6 – No heroics can match the Boxing Day Ashes Test of four years ago. Mark was added for batting 11 and opening on the same day.