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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton at Headingley

England v Australia: player ratings from the third Ashes Test

Mark Wood greets the crowd during England's victory
Mark Wood helped transform England’s attack and keep their Ashes hopes intact with their win at Headingley. Photograph: Steve Bond/PPAUK/Shutterstock

England

Zak Crawley Continues to get in and then out, scores of 44 and 33 joining efforts of 48 and 61 earlier in the series, but looked good while going about it. 6

Ben Duckett A streaky 23 in the second innings and only two in the first, the never-leaving schtick is starting to get tired. A safe pair of hands in the field, which is more unusual than it might be. 5

Moeen Ali Nine expensive overs in Australia’s first innings and 17 cheap ones, though his figures perhaps flattered him, in the second. Batted at No 3 on Sunday – he scored only five, but protected Brook from the new ball. 6

Joe Root Two disappointing dismissals and he has now scored 68 in his past four innings combined, three of them ending when he edged Cummins. Dropped Marsh early in his first innings. 5

Harry Brook The experiment of batting him at No 3 was mercifully abandoned after a single innings; back at No 5 he was transformed and delivered 75 crucial runs. 8

Ben Stokes Only 13 in the second innings, but that 80 in the first gave England a chance in the match and he refuses to submit to physical discomfort. 8

Jonny Bairstow Smouldered on the match programme cover but he has been more letdown than pin‑up. Having a terrible series and seems uncertain with bat and gloves. 3

Chris Woakes Three wickets in each innings and bowled excellently from the less favoured Football Stand End, before producing a match‑winning (if a bit lucky) 32 with the bat on the fourth day. 9

Chris Woakes hits out against Australia
Chris Woakes produced a vital contribution in the second innings to help England to victory. Photograph: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com/Shutterstock

Mark Wood Wood’s electric pace transformed England’s attack and his opening spell on Thursday was thrilling. Rewarded with his first home five-fer and scored wild and wildly important runs in both innings. 9

Ollie Robinson Had a back spasm midway through his 12th over of the first innings and did not bowl again. With Wood fit and firing and options aplenty, Robinson looks ripe for a rest. 4

Stuart Broad Dismissed Warner for the 16th and 17th times in his career and the quality of his bowling across the match deserved more than his five wickets. 7

Australia

Usman Khawaja After facing 518 balls in the first Test and 257 in the second, his 133 here was a veritable eye-blink of a contribution. Still, his 43 second-innings runs were important. 7

David Warner A couple of safe catches in the first innings represent the highlights of his Test. Just five runs off the bat and twice more dismissed by his nemesis, Broad. 3

Marnus Labuschagne Still in search of his first serious score of the series and now averaging 33.2 in his past 11 Tests (from 60.8 in his previous 30). 5

Steve Smith Scored 24 across two innings and paid for an atypically rash shot in the second. But also took five catches in England’s first innings – he is a brilliant fielder and an absolute ball magnet. 6

Travis Head Good in the first innings, superb in the second. Head has clearly grown tired of the short-ball theory with which he is continually tested, but England might be tiring of it too. 8

Mitchell Marsh A phenomenal reintroduction to Test cricket. He should have been out for 12 but that moment apart his first-innings 118 was remarkably assured and he got Crawley out in both innings. 9

Alex Carey Three games in he made his first mistake behind the stumps in the final moments of this one. He couldn’t contribute with the bat this time, but he is having a great series. 7

Mitchell Starc A thrilling display with the ball yielded a second-innings five‑fer and there was a useful second‑innings partnership with Head by way of bonus. 9

Pat Cummins Bowled beautifully in the first innings, taking six wickets for the fourth time in his career, and more of the same in the second, albeit with less reward. 8

Todd Murphy Thrown into a Stokes‑sparked maelstrom Murphy kept going and eventually got his man, but it was telling that Cummins used him only as a last resort on Sunday. 6

Scott Boland Ended the game with no wickets and no runs – those are bad numbers – and though he bowled decently, but the excellence of Cummins and Starc left him deep in the shade. 3

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