The Ashes: How England’s players rated in Test series

A thrilling 2023 Ashes series came to a fitting end on Monday as England beat Australia by 49 runs at The Oval to secure a 2-2 series draw.

Stuart Broad ensured a fairytale finish, claiming the last two wickets to take his career haul to 604 before retiring from the sport.

Australia retained the urn, however, having been saved by rain in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Here’s how the Press Association rated the England players’ performances over the course of the summer.

ZAK CRAWLEY, 8

Repaid England’s faith in spades. His sensational 189 at Old Trafford was an instant Ashes classic and his final stats told a story – 480 runs at 53.33 and a relentless strike-rate of 88.72. Stood up superbly to a strong attack and caught brilliantly at slip. 

BEN DUCKETT, 6

Missed out on a century by two runs at Lord’s but, given England’s top-order travails in previous Ashes series, 321 runs at 35.66 represents a decent return. His busy approach at the crease helped set the tone. 

OLLIE POPE, 3

Promoted to vice-captain at the start of the summer but will not remember this series fondly. Attracted a couple of brilliant deliveries and was sent for surgery after dislocating his right shoulder in the second Test.

JOE ROOT, 8

Cracked an unbeaten century on the the first day of the series and signed off nine runs short of another at The Oval. The heart of England’s batting. Bagged another six wickets with his unpredictable off-spin.

HARRY BROOK, 7

Banked four half-centuries but peaked with 85 in the final match and sold his wicket too cheaply at the start of the series. Learned quickly enough to carry England’s chase at his home ground of Headingley and is inked in as a middle-order mainstay.

BEN STOKES, 7

Almost conjured another miracle with his 155 at Lord’s and kept England in the game with 80 at Headingley. Knee problems restricted him to just one meaningful spell but his single-minded, ultra aggressive captaincy set the entire tone of the summer.

JONNY BAIRSTOW, 6

Not the same wicketkeeper he used to be before his horrific leg break. The decision to hand him the gloves cost England at crucial times early on but he managed to pull off a couple of diving catches as the momentum shifted. Played some handy lower-order knocks with 322 runs at 40.25.

MOEEN ALI, 6

Came out of retirement to fill a Jack Leach-shaped hole and departed once again as soon as the last ball was bowled. His return was a rollercoaster of blisters, groin strains, journeys up and down the order and a crucial three-wicket haul at the 11th hour.

OLLIE ROBINSON, 5

Wound up Australia with his off-field talk and on-field send-offs but ultimately under-delivered on expectations. Took 10 wickets in three games but familiar concerns over his fitness recurred at Headingley and he watched the series play out from the sidelines.

STUART BROAD, 8

The perfect end for an England great. Stayed fit and fresh enough to play all five Tests and led the way with 22 wickets. Hit his last ball as a professional cricketer for six and took a match-winning wicket with his final delivery.

CHRIS WOAKES, 9

The ultimate team man stepped into the limelight and picked up the Compton-Miller Medal as Ashes player of the series. Overlooked as England lost the first two matches, then revitalised the side with his some magnificent seam bowling that delivered 19 wickets at 18.14. Vital knock at Headingley.

MARK WOOD, 8

Like Woakes, a late but unforgettable addition to the story. Not quite fit enough until the third Test, he brought searing pace to the home attack and put the frighteners on the Australian batting line-up.

JAMES ANDERSON, 4

England’s record wicket-taker was a curiously peripheral figure despite playing four Tests. He was quiet with the new ball, managed only five wickets at more than 85 apiece and went unused in key moments. Declined to follow Broad into retirement but, at 41, his time may be coming.

JOSH TONGUE, 6

Leapfrogged Matthew Potts in the pecking order and shone at Lord’s, where he took five wickets and dismissed Steve Smith twice. Unlucky not to get another go but did his future prospects no harm at all.