Ashes Player Ratings Reimagined: England’s Harsh Lessons & Australia’s Big Moments

If the opening Test of an Ashes series is supposed to set the tone, then this one felt like a punch in the stomach for England. A brutal collapse, a couple of bright sparks, and a storm of Australian ruthlessness have left fans already chewing their nails before the second Test has even begun.

This year’s Ashes player ratings tell their own story — a blend of underperformers, unexpected heroes, and the occasional head-scratcher. Here’s how the sides stacked up, with all the nuance (and honesty) that the scorecards don’t quite capture.

Ashes Player Ratings: England’s Troubled Start

Zak Crawley – 1/10

There are quiet starts… and then there’s this. England backed Crawley once more for Australian conditions, hoping his natural stroke-play would shine on bouncy wickets. Instead, he walked away with the fourth Ashes pair ever recorded by an England opener, facing only 11 balls across two innings. It’s hard to imagine a tougher introduction — or a lower impact — for a first Test.

Ben Duckett – 5/10

Duckett never looked out of his depth, but never really looked in control either. Starts in both innings were promising, but his dismissal on Saturday triggered the unraveling of England’s second-innings resistance. He’s too good a player not to cash in eventually, but this was an opportunity missed.

Ollie Pope – 6/10

The technical tweaks appear to be helping. Pope looked compact and composed, especially early on. But history tells us his first Test is usually his best of a series, which is exactly what England don’t need. They need consistency, calmness, and runs. The flashes were there — now it’s about converting them.

Joe Root – 1/10

A shocker. There’s no softer way to say it. Root looked miles away from rediscovering the magic of his last century in Australia. England desperately need his nous, his experience, and his ability to anchor innings in hostile environments. Instead, he became a passenger at the worst possible moment.

Harry Brook – 5/10

His first-innings fifty was chaotic, borderline restless, but valuable. However, the shot that removed him in the second innings was one he’ll regret watching back. Still young, still learning, but England rely on him as a tone-setter now. This time, the tone fell flat.

Ben Stokes – 6/10

Returning from injury, Stokes delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul — a reminder of just how irreplaceable he is. But with the bat, he looked short of rhythm, and as captain, he lost the handle on the game when Travis Head began his assault. Even superheroes have off days, and Stokes had one with the armband.

Jamie Smith – 4/10

A baptism of fire. Smith has talent, no doubt, but the moment was big and the execution inconsistent. The short ball clearly targeted him, and he’ll need to smarten up quickly because Australia won’t back off now that they’ve smelled a weakness.

Gus Atkinson – 5/10

A bright spot early on — part of a strong first-innings bowling performance. With the bat in the second innings, he tried to fight when others folded. But he was also part of the attack that lost its grip when Head and company counterattacked. Plenty to like, plenty to fix.

Brydon Carse – 5/10

Similar story to Atkinson, with a bit more sting — and a bit more punishment. Carse was taken apart brutally by Head, but that experience could either haunt him or shape him. England will hope for the latter.

Jofra Archer – 5/10

In the first innings, Archer looked terrifying — the closest thing to unplayable that England produced all match. In the second innings, he was the best of a bad bunch, still sharp despite the chaos unfolding around him. If he stays fit, he can still change this series.

Mark Wood – 5/10

No wickets, but huge respect. After time away from the game, just seeing him charging in at full pace felt like a triumph. He bowled with heart, even if the figures didn’t reflect the effort.

Ashes Player Ratings: Australia’s Big Performers

Jake Weatherald – 6/10

Thrown into an Ashes debut and immediately met with Jofra Archer bowling rockets — tough doesn’t even cover it. Yet he held up well later and contributed meaningfully to the remarkable run-chase. Debut under fire, passed with credit.

Usman Khawaja – 3/10

A strange, disjointed Test. He didn’t look fully fit, spent stretches off the field, then alternated between excellent catches and painfully immobile moments in the slips. Still, his absence at the top opened the door for Head’s promotion — a twist that worked wonders for Australia.

Marnus Labuschagne – 7/10

A strong return. Marnus absorbed pressure in the first innings better than most, then settled in nicely alongside Head during the second-innings explosion. He didn’t produce a headline score, but his stability was priceless.

Steve Smith – 5/10

A forgettable performance with the bat and unnecessary noise before the match with his swipe at Monty Panesar. Australia didn’t need his runs this time, but that won’t remain true for long. Smith rarely stays quiet for multiple Tests.

Travis Head – 9/10

Momentum-shifting. Series-defining. Call it what you like — Head’s second-innings hundred was an Ashes classic. Yes, he played a poor shot in the first innings, which stops him getting a perfect 10, but his destructive counterattack against England’s pace battery tilted the entire match.

Cameron Green – 5/10

Delivered the crucial wicket of Pope in the first innings, took a nasty blow from Wood, and barely needed to lift a finger in the second innings. A quiet contributor, but a contributor nonetheless.

Alex Carey – 5/10

Tidy behind the stumps and tried to jump-start a counterattack early on. Not a standout performance, but a clean and competent one — exactly what Australia needed.

Mitchell Starc – 9/10

Australia’s spearhead without Cummins or Hazlewood, and he delivered the first Australian Ashes 10-wicket haul in two decades. Ruthless, relentless, and at times unplayable. A towering performance.

Scott Boland – 6/10

Shaky early on, steadier later. His second-innings spell helped spark England’s collapse, restoring the reliability he’s known for.

Brendan Doggett – 6/10

A solid debut — calm, composed, and a worthy stand-in for two world-class quicks. Australia hardly missed a beat with him in the lineup.

Nathan Lyon – 2/10

One of the loneliest Tests he’ll play. Pace dominated from first ball to last, leaving Lyon as little more than a spectator. A possible injury from a Wood strike didn’t help either.