Ashes 2023: England and Australia Player Ratings

England

We are going to start off with the England team.

Zak Crawley

Not many would have put their money on Crawley being England's top scorer ahead of the series, but this is exactly what he was. He picked up important runs in each match, but his stellar performance came at Old Trafford where he smashed 189. He finished on 480 runs, with an average of 53.33, which is more than Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss managed at home in The Ashes.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ben Duckett

While Crawley was spectacular, Ben Duckett was steady, and he will be quite content with his contribution over the five matches. His best performance came at Lord's, where he got close to reaching a century in both innings, but his insistence on playing every ball cost him. He averages 35.66, which is not bad for an opening batsman against a quality bowling attack.

Rating: 6/10

Ollie Pope

This was Pope's chance to shine at number three, but he did not have the series that he would have wanted. He scored 90 runs across the first four innings at an average of 22.50 before a shoulder injury brought a premature end to his campaign. He is a quality player, there is no doubt about that, but his international career to date has been nothing to write home about so far.

Rating: 2.5/10

Joe Root

Root started the 2023 Ashes in fine fettle as he smashed 100, but then in the next two Tests it is fair to say that Pat Cummings got the better of him. However, he was back to his very best in the final two matches, and he ended the series with 412 runs at an average of 51.50. Additionally, he picked up six very important wickets with his off-spin at a very healthy average of 28.66.

Rating: 8/10

Harry Brook

This was Harry Brook's first Ashes series, and although he did not score a century, he did pass fifty on four occasions to finish with 363 runs at an average of 40.33. He was a bit reckless in the first two matches, but he toned it down a bit in the last three and scored some important runs. Without his 85 at the Kia Oval, England probably would not have made it past the 200 mark.

Rating: 7/10

Moeen Ali

It was not a vintage showing from Moeen Ali, who came out of retirement for this series, but his batting at number three did make sure that England got the best out of their middle order, while also allowing Chris Woakes to play at eight. He did pick up some crucial wickets, finishing the series with nine wickets, but he was often pretty expensive and prone to bowling some bad balls - his bowling average was 51.44. With the bat, he scored 180 runs at an average of 25.71.

Rating: 6/10

Ben Stokes

It was a series to remember for the England captain in many ways. Due to his knee injury, he only bowled a few overs in the first two Tests, where he picked up three wickets at an average of 29.66. There is always a devastating batting performance around the corner with Stokes, and this time it happened at Lord's where he smashed his way to 155 runs. He had a pretty decent series with the bat, scoring 405 runs at an average of 45.00, and his captaincy cannot be faulted.

Rating: 7/10

Jonny Bairstow

Given the fact that he broke his leg not too long ago, it was a miracle that he was able to return the way that he did with the bat. However, when it comes to the gloves, we do not think that it is too harsh to suggest that his keeping cost England big time. Although, credit where it is due, he did take a couple of sensational catches throughout the series. That will not stop the call for Ben Foakes to keep. With the bat, he scored 418 runs at an average of 40.25, with 99* being his best score.

Rating: 6.5/10

Chris Woakes

Did not get a look in for the first two Tests, but come the end of the Ashes, he was England's Player of the Series. His introduction in the third Test, alongside Mark Wood, changed the contest. Woakes bowled a consistent line and length, causing all sorts of issues to the Australian batsmen. Australia were on top in the final Test, needing fewer than 150 runs with seven wickets remaining, but Woakes took two big wickets to swing the match. His tally of 17 wickets at 18.76 is nothing short of brilliant.

Rating: 9/10

Mark Wood

Wood was a joy to watch, and that spell where he bowled a ball that was 96.5 mph was one of the series' most absorbing passages of play. The Aussie batsmen just did not know how to cope with his pace, but he slowed down as the series moved on, which reduced his threat quite a bit. However, it was still a really good series for him, picking up 14 wickets at an average of 20.21.

Rating: 8/10

Stuart Broad

Broad announced his retirement from cricket during the final Test, so it was written in the stars that he would go on and take the final wicket to win England the match and help them draw the series. He bowled well throughout the series, picking up his bunny, David Warner, a few times, but he did have a couple of loose spells, which can be forgiven. He ended the series with 22 wickets at 28.40.

Rating: 7/10

Ollie Robinson

This was a very mixed series for Robinson, who did not feature again after the Headingley Test. He did not seem to be completely fit at the start of the series, which could be seen from his speeds, but he still picked up regular wickets, finishing with 10 wickets at 28.40.

Rating: 5/10

James Anderson

He is England's best ever player, but this was a really poor series for Anderson. From the four Tests that he played in, he picked up just five wickets at an average of 85.40. Although his pace was up, he could just not get much movement through the air or off the pitch. If truth be told, he was lucky to play in four matches.

Rating: 2/10

Josh Tongue

He played in the Test at Lord's and looked at home, picking up five wickets at 30.20 - all of these wickets were top four batsmen. He showed good pace, got the ball to move both ways, and got some decent bounce. England's loyalty to Anderson prevented him from getting another game, but he is definitely one for the future.

Rating: 6/10

Australia

Let us now look at how the Aussie players fared:

Usman Khawaja

Question marks surrounded Khawaja heading into this series, but he answered them in style, finishing as the top runscorer in the series - 496 runs at an average of 49.6. He scored over 200 runs in the first Test to get Australia off to the perfect start, and followed it up with 77 at Lord's. He also scored to half-centuries in the final Test, but it was not enough to see Australia win a series in England for the first time since 2001.

Rating: 8.5/10

David Warner

Somehow, he managed to hold onto his spot for all five Tests, but all he could manage throughout the series was a couple of half-centuries. In five matches, he scored just 285 runs at an average of 28.50, and we know he is better than that. He wants to retire at the SCG in January, but there is a chance he will not be selected.

Rating: 4/10

Marnus Labuschagne

Up until Old Trafford, he had a really frustrating series, getting starts and then getting out. At Old Trafford, he scored 51 in the first innings and 111 in the second, which, along with the rain, helped the Aussies to at least retain the Ashes. Then, in the final Test, he had a game to forget. Over the five matches, he scored 328 runs at an average of 32.79, which is not what he would have hoped for.

Rating: 5/10

Steve Smith

It was a frustrating series for one of the world's best batsmen. He scored a century at the Home of Cricket, but he did not score another half-century again until the 71 and 54 that he managed in the fifth Test. Smith will leave England with the knowledge that he has scored the most runs in England than any other overseas player, apart from Don Bradman. We think that it is not likely that he will return in 2027. He finished the series with 373 runs at 37.29, which is average for his high standards.

Rating: 6/10

Travis Head

In the first three Tests of the series, he was a thorn in England's side, scoring a half-century at Edgbaston to decrease England's lead, swinging the momentum at Lord's to Australia's side, and then his 77 at Headingley gave the Aussies hope that they could go on to claim a 3-0 lead. When it comes to his final two Tests of the summer, there is not really much to speak about. In his five Tests, he scored 362 runs at an average of 36.20.

Rating: 6/10

Mitchell Marsh

Got called into the squad in place of Cameron Green for the third Test, and he revived his career in spectacular fashion. While all his teammates were struggling, he smashed 118 from as many balls. Then, on day four at Old Trafford, he batted sensibly through 30 overs to help Australia get a draw. However, his performance at The Oval was one to forget if we are being honest. Scored 250 runs in total at an average of 50.00 and picked up three wickets to boot.

Rating: 6.5/10

Cameron Green

Although he will be happy that the Aussies managed to retain The Ashes, there was not a lot of personal success for Green. He did not make much of an impact in any of the three Tests that he played in as can be seen from the fact that he scored 103 runs at 20.60 and picked up five wickets at 47.00. He is still young, so he will have a chance to make amends soon.

Rating: 2/10

Alex Carey

While Bairstow struggled with the gloves throughout the series, Carey showed us what a class wicket-keeper he is. However, he will be ruing that dropped catch off Harry Brook in the final Test when he was on 5 - he went on to add a crucial 80 more runs to his total. While his keeping left very little to be desired, he had a poor series with the bat, scoring just 200 runs at an average of 22.22.

Rating: 6/10

Mitchell Starc

Starc was the Player of the Series for Australia as he managed to pick up crucial wickets at regular intervals. He bowled a couple of brilliant balls that he will remember, such as the quality outswinger to Ben Stokes and the one that bowled Pope through the gate at Lord's. He picked up five wickets at Headingley to keep his team in with a shout of winning, and then claimed eight wickets at The Oval. In four Tests, he picked up 23 wickets at 27.08.

Rating: 8/10

Pat Cummins

This was his first Ashes as captain, and it was a rollercoaster of an occasion for him. He saw his team over the line in the first Test with the bat, and then took six wickets in the third to give his team a sniff. At The Oval, he bowled a lot better than his figures would suggest, but he had a bit of a mare at Old Trafford. He got his captaincy all wrong, and conceded 129 runs for 1 wicket. Finished the series on 18 wickets at 37.72.

Rating: 7

Josh Hazlewood

Hazlewood arrived in England with some injury concerns, having played just four Tests in two years. However, he showed the quality that he has in the four Tests that he played, picking up 16 wickets at an average of 31.68. His best bowling performance came at Old Trafford, where he picked up five wickets while his fellow bowlers were being flogged all over.

Rating: 6.5/10

Nathan Lyon

Lyon was a thorn in England's side in the first two Tests, picking up nine wickets at average of 29.33. He, alongside Cummins, helped Australia get over the line in the first match at Edgbaston. However, during the match at Lord's he picked up a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the rest of the tour, and swung the momentum firmly back to England.

Rating: 7/10

Todd Murphy

Was Lyon's replacement at Headingley, but he was barely called upon to bowl in that game as the conditions were more suitable for the faster bowlers. He was then left out of the match at Old Trafford, before he showed that he has plenty of potential at The Oval. When Lyon hangs up his boots, he will earn plenty of Baggy Green caps. In the two matches that he played, he picked up 7 wickets at an average of 25.85.

Rating: 6/10

Scott Boland

Scott Boland's first taste of The Ashes in 2021/2022 could really have not gone any better, but it is fair to say that the Bolland bubble was popped this time around. Before the series, England had promised that they would treat Boland like a spinner, and this is exactly what they did, which threw him completely. In the two tests that he played, he only managed to pick up two wickets at an average of 115. This will be a tour that he will want to forget in a hurry.

Rating: 1/10

The next Ashes series will be played Down Under in 2025/2026, and if it is anything like the one that has just passed, there will be entertainment and drama in abundance. It cannot come quickly enough.