The final Ashes Test of the 2021-22 series concluded in a dramatic draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with England's batters showing rare resilience to salvage a result. While the urn remained firmly in Australian hands, the SCG clash provided a glimmer of fight from the tourists. We rate the performance of every English player who took the field in Sydney.
Top Order Shows Long-Awaited Grit
The opening partnership, so often a weakness, finally provided a foundation. Zak Crawley top-scored with 77 in the first innings, displaying the elegant strokeplay that has promised so much. His second-innings 36 was equally important in the rearguard action. He earns a solid 7.5 out of 10.
Haseeb Hameed's tour woes continued, managing just 6 and 9. His technical frailties were exposed once again, leading to a low rating of 2. The experienced Dawid Malan (3 and 4) also had a match to forget, scoring a disappointing 2.5.
The backbone of England's resistance was, unsurprisingly, their captain. Joe Root added another half-century to his mammoth series tally, scoring 50 in the first innings. His leadership in the field and decision-making during the tense final day were commendable, earning him an 8.
Middle-Order Heroes and Bowling Efforts
The hero of the final day was undoubtedly Ben Stokes. His first-innings 66 was a trademark powerful knock, but his monumental 60 off 123 balls in the second innings was an epic exercise in concentration and defiance. He batted through pain and fatigue to secure the draw, meriting a 9.
Jonny Bairstow, riding a wave of confidence from his Melbourne century, backed it up with a crucial 41 in Sydney. His spirited batting gets a 7. Jos Buttler, despite a finger injury, battled to 11 in the first innings before being ruled out. His replacement, Sam Billings, impressed on debut with 29 and 1, showing composure for a 6.5.
The bowling attack toiled hard on a flat SCG pitch. Stuart Broad (2/39 & 1/37) was the pick, consistently threatening and controlling the run rate for a rating of 7. Mark Wood's express pace yielded 1/79 and 0/40, but his effort was immense (6.5). Jack Leach (1/90 & 2/84) bowled a huge number of overs with mixed results, scoring a 5.5.
All-Rounders and Sub-Fielders
Ollie Pope fielded as a substitute for the injured Buttler and took a spectacular catch, but his primary contribution with the bat was a first-innings 4. His rating is a neutral 5.
The final day saw two unlikely batting heroes. Stuart Broad survived 35 deliveries for his 8 not out, while James Anderson faced 15 balls for 0 not out. Their defensive techniques under extreme pressure were worth their weight in gold, adding a point to each of their ratings for their batting resolve.
In summary, the SCG Test saw England's batting unit finally display the collective fight that had been missing for much of the series. While individual failures persisted, the defiant stands led by Stokes, supported by Crawley, Root, and Bairstow, and finished by the tailenders, provided a positive note to end a difficult tour. The bowling, while not taking 20 wickets, persevered in tough conditions.
