Ashes 2017-18, 2nd Test – Australia Player Ratings

After a thrashing in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, England looked to stage a comeback in the first ever Day-Night Test of the Ashes at Adelaide. Joe Root’s men had their moments, but were unable to pounce on the opportunities as they slumped to a 120-runs defeat. Australia, on the backs of Shaun Marsh’s brilliant ton, racked up a decent score in the first innings.

Thereafter, they shunted out England to take the game by the scruff of the neck. However, England bowled out Australia for a paltry 138 runs in the second innings courtesy James Anderson’s five-wicket haul. During the run chase, England showed resilience, but Mitchell Starc and Australia ripped through their lineup to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Here’s how the Australians fared

Cameron Bancroft – 2/10

After an impressive show in the first Test, Bancroft was expected to play a crucial role at the top of the order. However, he failed to impress at Adelaide with a couple of low scores. He succumbed to a run-out in the first innings where he was stranded in the middle of the pitch. In the second innings, he fell to James Anderson’s masterful display of swing with the new ball.

David Warner – 5/10

David Warner has been Australia’s batting stalwart for many years at the top of the order. He has taken Australia off to a healthy start on several occasions. However, he wasn’t at his fluent best at Adelaide. In the first innings, he dished out a patient 47 runs, but perished to Chris Woakes. In the second innings, he ground hard for 60 balls, but was unable to survive the heat.

Usman Khawaja – 6.5/10

Usman Khawaja has been struggling to claim a permanent spot in the Australian Test team. He didn’t help himself in the first Test. Nevertheless, he dished out a painstaking, yet graceful half-century in the first innings. He perished after a couple of impressive stands with Warner and Steve Smith. In the second innings, he was trapped in front by James Anderson for a low score.

Steve Smith – 6.5/10

Ever since the start of his career, Steve Smith has piled on runs at will. The Australian skipper made some brilliant bowling chances, which never allowed the English batsmen to settle. However, with the bat, he wasn’t at his sheer best. He played a gritty hand of 40 runs and eventually became Craig Overton’s maiden Test wicket. Chris Woakes accounted for his dismissal in the second innings.

Peter Handscomb – 4/10

Peter Handscomb has impressed for the Kangaroos in his limited opportunities for Australia in Test cricket. However, the Victorian couldn’t quite hit his straps at Adelaide. He played cautiously in the first innings with a strike rate of 41.86. Nonetheless, in the second attempt, he fell prey to Anderson’s masterclass with the pink-cherry.

Shaun Marsh – 9/10

Shaun Marsh was effortlessly Australia’s Player of the Match. His awe-inspiring century in the first innings attributed to Australia’s significant score first innings. The knock eventually turned out to be the difference between both the teams. He couldn’t quite replicate the same form in the second innings, but by then Australia already had England on the mat.

Tim Paine – 6/10

The selectors sprang a surprise by drafting Tim Paine into the Test team. The decision has paid dividends as the Tasmania wicket-keeper batsman staved off England’s celebrated bowling attack to notch up his third half-century of his career. His knock propelled Australia to a decent first-innings total. He couldn’t carry forward his form and became Chris Woakes’ victim in the second innings.

Mitchell Starc – 8.5/10

Mitchell Starc made a comeback to the Australian team after an injury layoff. He found his feet in the first Test itself. He replicated the same rhythm in the Day-Night encounter and was right on the money in England’s first innings as he nipped out three vital wickets. In the second innings, Starc made inroads into England’s batting lineup. He also was Australia’s joint top-scorer in the second innings.

Nathan Lyon – 8/10

Nathan Lyon was the lone spinner in Australia’s bowling armoury. He bowled frugally and hardly dished out loose deliveries for the England batsmen to work with. He nipped out four wickets in the first innings to put the skids under England. He also effected a scintillating caught & bowled dismissal to dismiss Moeen Ali In the second innings, he couldn’t pick up a couple of wickets and strangled the English batsmen.

Patrick Cummins – 7.5/10

Patrick Cummins in steadfastly turning himself into a genuine all-rounder for Australia. He impressed with the bat as he played a matured knock of 44 runs in the first innings. With the ball, he bowled decently to get rid of Joe Root, English skipper and Dawid Malan in the first innings. During England’s run-chase, he picked up a solitary wicket but displayed accuracy in line and lengths.

Josh Hazlewood – 7.5/10

Josh Hazlewood isn’t intimidating for the batsmen, but can get under the skins of batsmen with his swing. He bowled 16 overs in the first innings and picked up the wicket of James Vince. He was effective in the second innings as well as he accounted for Joe Root’s and Chris Woakes’ dismissal to dent England’s chances of a comeback.