Ashes 2013 1st Test: Ratings

A perfect performance from James Anderson

It was an Ashes Test match that lived up to expectations. Full of drama, controversial actions, and a brilliant atmosphere. In the end, England just edged it by 14 runs and therefore take a 1-0 lead into the next match. Here are my ratings of all the players judging by their performances from the match.

England:

Alastair Cook: 7/10 – Good captaincy, out early in the first innings but solid half-century in the second.

Joe Root: 6.5/10 – Not an explosive start to opening for Root after he scored a decent 30 in the first innings, but failed in the second innings, scoring just 5.

Jonathan Trott: 6.5/10 – Solid first innings as he top-scored but couldn’t carry on and get a big score and then out first ball in the second innings when England really needed him.

Kevin Pietersen: 7/10 – Poor first innings score but better second time around when he scored 64.

Ian Bell: 9/10 – Just 25 in the first innings which included 6 fours but extremely valuable and an excellent second innings, where he scored 109.

Jonny Bairstow: 7/10 – Decent score of 37 in the first innings but just 15 in the second innings.

Matt Prior: 6.5/10 – Good performance with the gloves but only scored 1 in the first innings and then only slightly made up for it second time around with 31.

Stuart Broad: 7.5/10 – Injury reduced the amount of overs he could bowl but he scored some very useful runs lower down the order.

Graeme Swann: 6.5/10 – Failed both times with the bat and took a few wickets but didn’t quite look at his best.

Steven Finn: 5.5/10 – Not a great performance for Finn here as he struggled with his rhythm and length.

James Anderson: 10/10 – Another outstanding performance for Jimmy. By taking five wicket-hauls in both innings, he showed his class and there was great endurance from him.

Australia:

Shane Watson: 7/10 – Average performance with the bat and didn’t bowl that much.

Chris Rogers: 7/10 – Decent score first time around but solid and a well organised fifty in the second innings.

Ed Cowan: 5/10 – Really struggled in both innings.

Michael Clarke: 6/10 – Received an unplayable delivered from Anderson in the first innings and at times his captaincy was good but he was definitely out-performed by Cook in the DRS department.

Steve Smith: 7.5/10 – Solid half-century and looks an improved player.

Phil Hughes: 7/10 – Beautiful first innings performance, but received a beauty in the second innings.

Brad Haddin: 7/10 – Did very well in the second innings, but scored just 1 first time around and at times looked slightly rusty with the gloves.

Mitchell Starc: 6.5/10 – Failed with the bat, but pretty good performances with the ball.

James Pattinson: 7/10 – Did pretty well with both bat and bowl.

Peter Siddle: 8.5/10 – Excellent in the first innings and did very well overall.

Ashton Agar: 9/10 – Dream start for him with a record-breaking first innings score and several wickets to accompany it.