FIFTH TEST PLAYER RATINGS

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McGrath - had a fine final Test.

By Dave Tickner

AUSTRALIA

Justin Langer
A great servant to Australia over the years, he has undoubtedly picked the right time to retire. Has struggled for runs since the first match of the series, and in this game was found wanting in the field on more than one occasion. Battled hard in the second innings to be there when the 5-0 victory was confirmed. 6

Matthew Hayden
A solid if unspectacular game for Hayden, who has reiterated his desire to continue in Test cricket next November. Has shown in this series he remains a threat at this level and has the ability to bully attacks when the force is with him. 6

Ricky Ponting
Ran himself out when well set, but led the side superbly, keeping the team focused amid the emotion of the various retirements. Whether he looks as good captaining a side without Warne and McGrath will be the real test for Punter. 6

Michael Hussey
Started the series like Bradman, but actually ended it looking mortal. Made 37 here, but was frequently troubled by Monty Panesar before falling early on day three. 6

Michael Clarke
Another batsman whose series tailed off once the fate of the urn was settled. While he has undoubtedly tightened his technique, another dismissal to a rising ball outside off stump will see old fears resurface. 5

Andrew Symonds
Useful runs in the first innings and brilliant in the field, Symonds is beginning to look the part in Test cricket. Shane Watson's hamstring might have cost him rather more than one Ashes series after Roy's exploits on his return to the side. 8

Adam Gilchrist
Kept beautifully after a scrappy game in Melbourne, and was batting somewhere near his best before Billy Bowden nipped the fun in the bud with a shocking caught-behind decision. The possibility must remain that this was Gilchrist's final Test match, but he remains one of the game's finest entertainers. 8

Shane Warne
Almost the perfect script, but Warne has to end his career without a Test century after falling for 71 in Australia's first innings. His game-turning ability was highlighted by turning the game decisively Australia's way first with the bat, and then with the ball by capturing Andrew Flintoff just before the close on day three. Australia's loss is undoubtedly Hampshire's gain, with Warne clearly still having plenty to offer. 8

Brett Lee
Finally got the wickets his bowling throughout the series has merited, but equally impressive was his control. So often a bowler who leaks runs even when bowling well, here Lee's line and length were immaculate and he reaped the rewards. 8

Stuart Clark
Another great Test match for the man who was comfortably the best and most consistent bowler on either side, and someone who must have pushed Ponting close for the man-of-the-series nod. Useful runs from number 10 were another plus for a player who seems to relish the Test-match stage. 8

Glenn McGrath
Bowled as well as he had in the series, and will have been particularly pleased to remove Kevin Pietersen twice in the match. Picked up a wicket with his final ball in Test cricket, and was still chuntering away in typical style even as England collapsed on day four. 8

ENGLAND

Andrew Strauss
Along with Flintoff, England's biggest disappointment in the series, and had another frustrating match here. Deserves credit for batting on after almost having his head ripped off by a short ball from Lee, but at the moment he gives no suggestion of permanence at the crease as he strives to get England off to a positive start. Clearly misses the aggressive Trescothick, as his partnership with the more defensive Cook has failed to fire. 5

Alastair Cook
Had his technique exposed outside the off stump again before falling to an injudicious hook shot in the second innings. There's much to admire about the Essex left-hander, but he has some technical faults to work on. 4

Ian Bell
Twice got starts, twice got out. It's becoming a recurring theme for Bell, who has spent the whole series looking on the verge of something special without ever quite achieving it. While it took a special delivery to get him in the first innings, Bell will still be struggling to work out exactly what he was trying to do to a good-length ball wide of the off stump in the second innings. 7

Kevin Pietersen
Seems to struggle when asked to continue his innings on a second day. Fell to a foolhardy hook shot in the first innings, but showed admirable restraint and patience against some excellent bowling in the second innings before nicking off early on day four. 6

Paul Collingwood
Another disappointing Test match for the Durham man, who has now been thoroughly worked out by the Australian bowlers, who admitted he came in "under the radar" early in the series. 4

Andrew Flintoff
Looked better with the bat than he has for a year, but must live with the stain of being the first England captain to be whitewashed in an Ashes series since 1921. 6

Chris Read
Kept as well as he always does, picking up six dismissals in Australia' first innings but fell cheply in both England innings to leave the thorny question of who should don the gauntlets unanswered. 6

Saj Mahmood
A game to forget after two more failures with the bat and some ferocious punishment from the Australian batsmen. His introduction in the second innings seemed to be a (successful) attempt by Flintoff to bring a swift end to England's agony. 3

Steve Harmison
Bowled better than he has in the series to date, but now he heads home after retiring from one-day internationals. The difference between his bowling here and in Brisbane neatly sums up the faults in England's preparations for this series. 6

Monty Panesar
Deserved more luck with the ball, while his promotion to England's nightwatchman in Matthew Hoggard's absence shows how his batting is progressing. 6

James Anderson
Bowled well in Australia's first innings, and joins Harmison as a bowler who just started to look promising as the series was rushing to its inevitable conclusion. 7