Jake Weatherald – 2 – Has not looked Test quality since making a maiden half-century in Brisbane. Should have been a weakness England exploited while the series was alive.
Travis Head – 6 – Started the week on the front of the Herald Sun, pictured with his family in front of a Christmas tree. Has a poor record at the MCG, yet made the highest score of the match.
Marnus Labuschagne – 2 – Struggled in the conditions. Another Australia batter going backwards and battling to justify his recall.
Steve Smith – 5 – Ran out of partners in the second innings, continued as Josh Tongue’s bunny in the first. Gets a point for correctly predicting how difficult batting would be in this match.
Usman Khawaja – 4 – Batted for a relatively long time in the first innings, without scoring quickly, then a duck in the second. Will Sydney be the last Test of his career?
Alex Carey – 4 – Quiet match with the bat for one of Australia’s players of the series. Still superb with the gloves.
Cameron Green – 4 – Twice got starts, twice found a way to get out, first with a run out then a poor shot. Slowly slipping down the order. Could soon end up as number 12.
Michael Neser – 7 – Australia’s top performer in the first innings with both bat and ball, though could be vulnerable if Sydney is flat.
Mitchell Starc – 4 – Would have expected to feast in such helpful conditions, only to have a strangely quiet game. Drop of Ben Duckett proved to be vital.
Jhye Richardson – 3 – Used sporadically on his return to Test cricket – a four-year wait for two days of action.
Scott Boland – 6 – No heroics to match the Boxing Day Ashes Test of four years ago. Added mark for batting 11 and opening in the same day.
