England player ratings from drawn Ashes series as two stars lead the way
Stuart Broad completed the Ashes in the only way he knows how and exited stage left as a winner.
The 37-year-old couldn’t have scripted it any better than to take his 604th and final Test scalp in his final cricket match at the Oval to secure an Ashes-levelling win by 49 runs.
Although knowing how mischievously brilliant Broad has been throughout his astonishing career you couldn’t be certain that he didn’t simply bend the game to his will and make sure that the final two scalps belonged to him as he strolls off into the sunset.
With his baby daughter watching on in fiancee Mollie King’s arms, alongside the rest of his family, they were able to let out the ultimate release of celebration as Broad wheeled away arms outstretched in familiar pose as the Oval roared their hero into retirement.
With Alex Carey edging the final ball of this series and being caught out by Jonny Bairstow, the curtain was brought down on not only an incredible career but also on a remarkable five match contest that kept on giving right to the very end, 25 match days after it all began in Birmingham.
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And how fitting then that it was two men who call Edgbaston home, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali who gave the Aussies the Brum rush earlier in the day with seven wickets between them to turn the game England’s way.
Don’t forget, England were 2-0 down after the opening two games and had to fight their way back to 2-2 with some stunning cricket and staying true to their Bazball philosophy that made them appear the better team as the series went on.
Here are Mirror Sport's series ratings from an incredible seven weeks of cricket.
Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes speak after the fifth Test (Getty)Zak Crawley - 9
Right from the very first ball he laid out his stall and he stayed true to that approach in a breakthrough series to be the highest run scorer at the highest strike rate of the batters.
Ben Duckett - 6
Acquitted himself so well at Lord’s with twin fifties, and played his part in fast starts, but failed to go on and didn’t make the Aussies work hard enough for his wicket.
Moeen Ali - 7
Just about the most eventful series of anyone and he wasn’t even supposed to play. Made some key contributions at times with bat and ball, and was consistently inconsistent.
Moeen Ali took some valuable wickets for England (PA)Joe Root - 8
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A solid if unspectacular contribution from the team’s best batter, but deserved more for his Edgbaston hundred. Made mistakes at crucial moments with bat and in the field.
Harry Brook - 8
A very decent first Ashes series without getting that hundred. Match-winning knock at Headingley the stand out, but got stronger as the series went on.
Ben Stokes - 8
At the heart of England’s approach and did it his way. Led the way with the bat from Lord’s onwards and it inspired others. Maybe took the odd unnecessary gamble too.
Jonny Bairstow - 6
The toughest series arrived a little too soon for Bairstow the keeper, but Bairstow the batter showed flashes of his Bazball brilliance to justify his return to the side.
Chris Woakes - 9
A trio de force after more than a year out of the side. He has picked up the Warner mantle from Broad and taken plenty more wickets at a good rate. Scored important runs too.
Mark Wood - 8
Turned the series around following his introduction. His pace has put the Aussies on edge and created chances elsewhere. Big hitting cameos have been influential.
Stuart Broad - 8
Put his body on the line across five matches and delivered more often than not. Was the chief Aussie irritant throughout the series and revelled in the contest to break more records.
Broad and Ali leave the pitch for the final timeJames Anderson - 4
Tidy and economical, but uncharacteristically unthreatening when it came to taking wickets. A little unlucky maybe, but that is not the story over four matches.
Ollie Robinson - 5
A disappointing series from someone who promised much more but delivered ‘nude nuts.’ Once again his body let him down and leaves him with a point to prove.
Josh Tongue - 6
A promising start in Ashes cricket. Five wickets per match would be a stellar return, but he only got to play once and should have been given another go.
Ollie Pope - 4
Injured his shoulder, but still managed to spark the hooking collapse at Lord’s that turned a strong position into defeat. The series then passed him by with three others doing his job.
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