Ashes Player Ratings: Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Ben Stokes and Joe Root are all rated

Zach Crowley – 5 – An average of 27, which was exactly what was expected at the start of the series. He has not lived up to his back-man billing for Australia and should not be guaranteed a place in the home summer.

Ben Duckett – 3 – He arrived with a reputation as one of the best batsmen across all formats in the world, leaving his career at a crossroads. Just 50 years old, the catch was dropped and videotaped in Noosa. Now we move on to the white-ball tours of England and the Indian Premier League, where a break might be the smart option.

Jacob Bethell – 7 – Where was he? How different would the England tour have been if they had backed Bethel sooner? Just two Tests, but a vital 40 in Melbourne was followed by a coming-of-age 154 in Sydney. New number three in England.

Joe Root – 7 – Finally, I completed a Test century in Australia and got another century in Sydney, but not much else. England’s best player is still 35 years old and wants to return after four years. Where would they be without him?

Harry Brook – 5 – This should have been the series when he announced himself as a huge Test star and instead was one of many disappointing dismissals. He has a lot going for him as a white-ball captain, so will this hinder his development as a Test player?

Ben Stokes – 6 – Another England captain will be beaten and never get another chance to win a series here. England’s best player, less than his best with the bat and a poor series tactically. He received an extra mark for bearing the burden of many of his colleagues who had let him down.

Jimmy Smith – 3 – Like Duckett, he arrived as an English banker and left with his international future in doubt. Glove errors and several soft dismissals – his shot in Sydney summed up England’s crazy tour. After being dropped from the white-ball squads, will you be the next Test axe?

Wheeljacks – 5 – He did what he was asked to do, which was to bowl some off-spin ball and bat at eight – but no one expected him to do that in four Tests. It would be unfair to judge a role that Jack isn’t truly qualified for. When can he play another Test?

Braydon Carrs – 6 – The fast bowler’s total of 22 wickets is bettered by only James Anderson and Ian Botham in England Ashes innings in the last 55 years. The numbers don’t tell the story of how many times he splashed the ball. Having the toughness to play all five Tests says a lot about his character.

Matthew Potts – 1 – Perhaps he was cruel, given the hand he was dealt. His only appearance in Sydney was difficult to watch. She was mistreated by England – at home and abroad, ignored for a year, then fell out of the Ashes Test. He will definitely slide down the hierarchy.

Josh Tong – 7 – He did not play until the third Test, and then managed to pick up 18 wickets. One of the few England players to leave Australia with his reputation enhanced and he should be first in attack in the summer.

Mark Wood – 2 – Herculean effort to regain his fitness, only for his series to end after bowling 11 overs in the first Test. Will he play for England again?

Jofra Archer – 6 – He bowled better than his nine-wicket total would suggest and was at times among England’s best batsmen. He was injured after three matches as a reminder (if that was needed) and will need constant management for the remainder of his Test career.

Ollie Pope – 3 – It started with promise, then predictably fizzled out only to be dropped after three tests. He has not repaid the faith he has shown and must work hard to get another chance.

Gus Atkinson – 3 – One of the many who wilted in the first two Tests, then hinted at something close to his best in the fourth Test, only to suffer an injury. He is no longer a guaranteed part of England’s first line.

Shoaib Bashir – 0 – This round was devoted to the experience of building a spinner from raw materials, and then the game was unable to obtain any of the five tests.