4th Test - Melbourne: England marks out of 10

 

Mission more or less accomplished. The Ashes have been retained with the most crushing of victories - England's biggest down under since 1912 - and after the mother of all celebrations, England will be looking to seal the series at Sydney and record the 3-1 scoreline that their dominance has deserved.

Here's how the XI who made history in Melbourne rated:

Andrew Strauss - 8: Won an all-important toss and excelled in the field where bowling changes and clever field positions invariably brought wickets. Batted excellently on day one showing expert decision making on which ones to leave. The only gripes was that yet again he fell early - not for the first time - when re-starting his innings on day 2 and at times he took men out of the slips too quickly. But considering he is now an Ashes winning skipper both home and away, let's not quibble too much.

Alastair Cook - 7: Leapfrogged over Hussey to return to the top of the leading run scorers in the series and like Strauss, he left well and batted with style and intelligence on day one. Will have been disappointed not to go on and record his third ton of the campaign.

Jonathan Trott - 9: Now second only to Bradman in the list of batsmen with the highest test average and  against Australia it is even better at over 100. Australia don't have a clue where to bowl to him.

Kevin Pietersen - 7: Another classy knock from the revitalised Pietersen full of excellent straight drives. Undone by one that kept low from Siddle, but at least had the pleasure of riling Ponting - did he ask him for his telephone number?

Paul Collingwood - 3: Came into the match under intense pressure and failed to deliver when skying an attempted hook down the throat of Siddle. Also missed a couple of sharp chances in the field.  Those that denigrate him seem to conveniently forget Collingwood's crucial role in the evolvement of this side, but the time may well be nigh for younger blood. If this series proves his curtain call, it's not a bad one to bow out on though.

Ian Bell - 4: All the talk of him moving up the order went up in a puff of smoke when he followed Collingwood back into the pavillion in almost identical fashion after an injudicious hook. Took a wonderful low catch to get rid of Hussey in the second innings.

Matt Prior - 7: Rode his luck massively in scoring what may well be the least attractive and most chancy fifty he will ever make. Was probably even more gutted than he looked when he gave his wicket away on 85. Once again kept well - a missed stumping to reprieve Clarke aside -  with seven catches including the one that sealed the triumph.

Tim Bresnan - 9: A contentious pick ahead of Finn, but didn't he do well? Played a miserly support role in the 1st innings, but became the main attraction in the second with a career best 4/50 including the three quick wickets that tore the heart out of Australia's attempted rearguard. Match figures of 6/75 from 34.4 overs gave England the control that Finn had been lacking. Not bad for a fat lad.

Graeme Swann - 8: There wasn't much spin on offer, but Swann used drift and variation to bowl an extremely tight spell on day 3 to help grind Australia into the dust. His intelligence as a bowler was epitomised by the wicket of Clarke. We're not sure about the boy band impersonating sprinkler dance though!

Chris Tremlett - 9: Most of our predictions for this series have bitten the dust, but our choice of Tremlett as England's Dark Horse was a good one. Bowled brilliantly in both innings - with the ball that got Watson in the 1st innings being the highlight - and now looks set for a long run in the side as Anderson's new ball partner.

James Anderson - 8.5: Suggestions that he would struggle in Australian conditions are redundant now with Anderson sitting proudly at the top of the list of leading wicket takers in the series. He saved his best here for day 1 and when he got the crucial wicket of Hussey, England knew that they were going to roll over the Aussies.

Where next?

Day 4 @ Melbourne: Ashes retained as England end 24 years of hurt

Day 3 @ Melbourne: England on the brink as revolution looms down under

Day 2 @ Melbourne: Trott so hot as Ponting boils over

Day 1 @ Melbourne: Ponting's Turkeys are stuffed on Boxing Day

1st Test: England marks out of 10, 1st Test: Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

3rd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

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Comments

[Contreo]

stop trying to be a wannabe rater

[Contreo]

let bbcsport do reviews

[The Reverse Sweep]

With respect Contreo, if you don't like it - don't read it.

[Essexpieboy]

Hey Contreo, this is a blog and therefore Mr Reverse Sweep is allowed to do what he wants. Do you pay for the upkeep of the site? If not, then can I suggest you keep comments constructive.

Nice ratings although can't see how Trott drops a point, especially given the runout of Hughes. If marks are out of 10 then it has to be achievable.