Joe Root – England’s captain can never be faulted for effort, as his hospitalisation for severe dehydration epitomised on the last day of the series. His failure to convert 50s into hundreds this winter was, however, a major frustration for all – contrasting with the prolific output of his opposite number Steve Smith. Root nonetheless dealt admirably at times with the stresses, on and off the pitch, of England’s flawed and high-profile campaign. 6
Alastair Cook – The all-time national record runscorer returned to form with a bang but, as he himself noted, too late. After Cook’s outstanding double-century on a controversially lifeless pitch in Melbourne, he admitted he was “embarrassed” with his previous efforts while England lost the Ashes before Christmas, and would have to live with that knowledge for a long time. 4
Mark Stoneman – Another batsman who is not about to hide from the truth about his own performances. Agreeing after Perth he had done “all right”, he added that “all right” was not good enough. It should be good enough to ensure his selection for the forthcoming New Zealand tour, but Stoneman needs a century on his Test CV very soon. 5
James Vince – England’s new enigma. Vince has all the style of a world-beater but the content so far of a wastrel. He too needs much more substantial scores soon. 4
Dawid Malan – The success story of England’s off-colour winter. Malan looks inked in at number five – unless it is decided he needs to go up the order to help Vince out. 8
Jonny Bairstow – His century in Perth was a spot of redemption after his strange bar-room headbutt greeting for Cameron Bancroft unwittingly created a problem for the embattled tourists. Bairstow’s runs at the WACA were not enough to stop Australia’s victory surge, and his decision to ditch the nightwatchman backfired in Sydney, but he remains a reliable presence in front and behind the stumps. 7
Moeen Ali – A side and then finger injury set the all-rounder back at the start of the tour, and he simply never recovered in time with either bat or ball. 1
Chris Woakes – Had to miss the final Test with a recurrence of a previous side injury. Woakes was below his high all-round standards before then. 4
Tom Curran – Retained his place in Sydney after a Boxing Day debut, thanks to Woakes’ injury. Curran produced a spirited innings down the order, but posed minimal threat with the ball. 3
Stuart Broad – He worked hard throughout but did not produce the goods when they were needed with the ball. His tailend batting has become highly entertaining and occasionally effective again. 3
Mason Crane – There was no hiding place as Australia piled on the runs in Sydney, but England’s leg-spin debutant acquitted himself well enough to suggest he may well have a long-term future – at home as well as abroad. 5
James Anderson – A paragon. Anderson had a thankless task in these punishing conditions. But he cashed in when he had his chance in Adelaide, and gave Australia nothing elsewhere to deliver a hard-earned sub-30 average. 8
Crag Overton – Like Malan, to a slightly lesser extent, he emerges with credit. There was much to like about Overton’s attitude with ball and bat, before he paid for his bravery with a cracked rib which ruled him out of the last two matches. 7
Jake Ball – England made an immediate call on him in favour of Overton after Brisbane, and it was hard to quibble. 2
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