Root comes top of the class, with Broad close behind...
Monday 24 August 2015 18:35, UK
England have won the Ashes for the fifth time in seven series following a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Australia.
But which players impressed most for Alastair Cook's side and who will be disappointed by their contribution? We asked Sky Sports commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain for his series ratings...
Alastair Cook – 8.5
330 runs at 36.66
Winning this series was redemption for him as skipper after suffering the whitewash of 2013/14. I thought his captaincy was excellent throughout, at Trent Bridge in particular, and he won some crucial tosses as well. Never underestimate the importance of that! His 96 in the first innings at Lord’s was a brilliant knock and so was his 85 at The Oval. He really deserved to get that first Ashes hundred on home soil.
Adam Lyth – 3
115 runs at 12.77
It’s been a battle for him. To be fair, he’s got some good deliveries but as an opener he needs to tighten up around off stump because he’s played at some balls he could have left well alone; the timing of his movement is a little bit off and that opens him up a bit. He'll probably miss out on the UAE and so needs to go back to county cricket and make sure he is better equipped the next time he gets a call.
Ian Bell – 5.5
215 runs at 26.87
While still not at his fluent best – he would have liked a few more runs – he’s made key contributions, most notably on his home ground, Edgbaston, where he scored a couple of half-centuries after being promoted to three. He’s still a class act and only he will know whether his demise in form is terminal or he can turn it around like Cook has done in the last year or so.
Joe Root – 9.5
460 runs at 57.50
4 wickets at 33.75
Simply brilliant. He’s part of a young breed of cricketer who can play in any conditions, in any style, at any tempo. He’s determined to succeed and, crucially, he's not scared – he doesn’t fear Australia at all. He caught brilliantly throughout the series and is an inspirational lad to have around. He seems good fun as well – exactly what you need in pressure situations.
Jonny Bairstow – 6
118 runs at 29.50
It was important for him to play well after his recall and his 74 at Trent Bridge will have done him the world of good. He got a brilliant delivery from Mitchell Johnson at Edgbaston – one that would have got most people out – but he also had a couple of soft deliveries at The Oval. He still needs to work on dealing with the short ball but he's picking his bat up higher these days and the change in technique is really working for him.
Ben Stokes – 8
201 runs at 25.12
11 wickets at 33.45
His bowling at Trent Bridge, culminating in his six second innings wickets, was absolutely outstanding and I thought he bowled well at The Oval, too. He’s been a little bit feast or famine with the bat during this series but there’s no denying that his knock of 87 at Lord’s was quite brilliant. He was probably a bit mentally tired at the end of the series but he has proved the value of having a genuine all-rounder in the side.
Jos Buttler – 5
122 runs at 15.25
12 catches
His keeping was good throughout – some of the catches he took down the leg-side at Edgbaston were particularly impressive – but he’s found it more difficult with the bat in this series, particularly against the left-armers. Like Stokes, he probably became a bit mentally tired but he looked like he was finding form a little bit at The Oval and I'm sure there's more to come.
Moeen Ali – 7
293 runs at 36.62
12 wickets at 45.50
He’s scored some vital runs down the order but I’m just a bit concerned that England are wasting him down at number eight because I still see so much potential in his batting. He could move up the order in the UAE and, for me, is a genuine option to open the batting. He’s still very much a part-time spinner, though, and that’s an area that England are going to have to improve in if they’re to win on flatter pitches.
Stuart Broad - 9
21 wickets at 20.90
134 runs at 19.14
I love his attitude; he’s a fighter and that’s exactly the type of tough character you need in an Ashes series. He became more confident in his batting and I think that helped his bowling. Like Stokes, I always felt he had a big wicket haul in him somewhere and the performance that he put in at Trent Bridge was magnificent. Figures of 8-15 are what win you Ashes series.
Mark Wood – 8
10 wickets at 39.10
103 runs at 25.75
When he finds his rhythm he is a real asset to Cook because he gives him variation, skidding the ball on to batsmen and swinging it late. He’s another tough competitor but also quite a character, something you need on and off the field when the pressure is on you. Like Root, he really seems to enjoy his cricket and I think he’s going to be very entertaining over the next few years.
Steven Finn – 7.5
12 wickets at 22.50
What a Test comeback! After two years out of the side he deserved all the success he had at Edgbaston because he’s worked hard to get his game back to where it is. He produced the goods when Cook needed him too – standing up and performing brilliantly. He’s a lovely lad and it’s great to see him in the side. The Oval wasn't as great, though, with his no-balls and the fact he was a little down on pace.
Gary Ballance – 3
98 runs at 24.50
His stats remain pretty good but New Zealand and Australia found him out with the full delivery and now he needs to work hard to get his rhythm back. He’s going to have to look at his game a little because he’s never going to be a front foot player and opposition bowlers will see a chink in the armour they’ll think they can exploit. But you have to be tough to get the runs he has done and I think he’ll be back.
James Anderson – 8
10 wickets at 27.50
He’s a magnificent cricketer so England need to wrap him up and ensure he’s back to full fitness as soon as possible. Whenever there is any movement he’s a handful – the first day at Edgbaston being a classic example – and if he’d played at Trent Bridge he and Broad would have had a real scrap over those Australian wickets.
