FOURTH TEST PLAYER RATINGS

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Warne - starred in his final MCG Test.

By Dave Tickner

AUSTRALIA

Justin Langer
Made an aggressive 27 to get Australia off to a quick start and fielded well, but the feeling remains he, like Warne and McGrath, has just one game left at this level. 6

Matthew Hayden
Should have been given out twice before he'd reached double figures but cashed in on his good fortune in glorious style, combinging with Symonds to take the game well out of England's reach. They were the only two batsmen on either side to look comfortable. 8

Ricky Ponting
A rare quiet game with the bat after falling victim to what we now know is one of England's plans to him, he still doesn't quite convince as a captain. How he performs in the job once Warne and McGrath have gone will define his captaincy. 4

Mike Hussey
Another member of the prolific Australian middle-order to surprise everyone with a failure. Was still his usual busy self in the field. 4

Michael Clarke
See above. Like Hussey, his awesome series stalled somewhat, but he has done enough in this series already to justify the selectors' decision to recall him to the side. 4

Andrew Symonds
Looked like getting out every ball before he reached 20, he grew in stature to play a truly destructive innings and get Australia into a position of absolute dominance they never relinquished. Proved he can play at this level, to himself as much as anyone else.

Adam Gilchrist
Made just a single and had an unusually scrappy game with the gloves. Perhaps another player with just one game left at this level? 4

Shane Warne
It was almost inevitable, wasn't it. A complete performance from the great legspinner, taking five wickets in ideal seam-bowling conditions on day one, including his 700th Test victim, and took a catch as well before slapping a swashbuckling unbeaten 40 at the end of Australia's innings. The only surprise was that he took just two second-innings wickets to leave himself one short of 1,000 international scalps. While Warne was always a good chance for the man-of-the-match award here, make no mistake he got it on merit. Brilliant performance, and could surely carry on until 2009 if he so wished. 9

Brett Lee
Finally got some overdue reward for his unstinting efforts in this series. He bowled at rapid pace but rarely offered the loose deliveries that sometimes mar his bowling. He got swing and seam movement, and troubled all the England batsmen. 8

Stuart Clark
Another fine Test match for a bowler enjoying his belated introduction to Test cricket. He hasn't had a bad innings in the series and captains love having bowlers in their side who a) take wickets and b) concede no runs. Clark is one such bowler. 8

Glenn McGrath
The least threatening of Australia's three main seamers, taking just one wicket in each innings, McGrath's turn in the spotlight will surely come in his final game on his home turf at the SCG. 6

ENGLAND

Andrew Strauss
Battled hard in both innings, but the fact his knocks of 50 and 31 were enough to top-score in both England's innings says much for his team-mates' shortcomings in this game. 6

Alastair Cook
Came back to earth after his fine efforts in Perth. In the second innings in particular he looked a little bit all over the place, luckily escaping a clear-cut lbw shout before a leaden-footed drive cost him his wicket. 5

Ian Bell
Two single-figure scores for Bell,. who must wonder what Gods he offended to get two leg-before dismissals in a game where the lbw law seemed to have been discarded for long periods. 4

Paul Collingwood
Battled with Strauss in both innings, but fell both times when much more was needed. He came in under Australia's radart i nthe first couple of Tests, but they are fully aware ofhim now na d might just have worked him out. 5

Kevin Pietersen
Finally moved up to number four in the order after being stranded with the tail again in the first innings, Pietersen responded with a rash stroke to a ball that deserved to be treated with respect. Rumours that Pietersen has grown frustrated with his team-mates' efforts add to an uneasy feeling about England's star man. 5

Andrew Flintoff
Got it wrong at the toss, but did bowl well early in Australia's innings. Still looks desperately out of form with the bat and weighed down by the troubles of leading a losing side. 6

Chris Read
Kept beautifully and showed some steel with the bat in England's ill-starred second innings. More than justified his selection and deserves to be given a proper extended run in the side in both forms of the game. 7

Saj Mahmood
Bowled with real pace and menace, and deserved his four wickets. Still bowls too many four balls though, and a pair with the bat means he has yet to show he can bat at number eight. 6

Steve Harmison
Steamed in to good effect in his first spell, but faded thereafter. Such a shame that he hasn't been able to find his best in this series, as he remains a match-winning bowler. 5

Monty Panesar
Hardly threatened and more worryingly leaked runs as Hayden and Symonds got after him. Has inched one place up the batting order and enjoyed himself in an entertaining if brief second-innings cameo. 5

Matthew Hoggard
Unlucky to pick up only one wicket after twice haveing nailed-on shouts against Hayden turned down by Rudi Koertzen. A hard-working cricketer who will be spared from much of the recriminations and reprisals that will follow this series. 6