The Ashes: Fourth Test, Day Two – Player Ratings
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After a tough Day One of the Fourth Ashes Test, Day Two certainly belonged to England.
Australia started the day on 244/3, looking to establish a winning position and after reaching 260/3, they collapsed to 327 all out, losing seven wickets for just 63 runs.
In response, England ended the day on 192/2, still trailing by 135 runs, but with eight wickets remaining.
Here’s how the players rated:
Alastair Cook - 9
Form is temporary, class is permanent. You don’t score 31 Test centuries if you can’t play, and Cook returned to good form to score century number 32 at the MCG, becoming just the second overseas player to score centuries at all five major Test grounds in Australia.
He was given a life on 66 when he was dropped at slip, but he looked back to his best. A nice reminder that there’s still life in the old dog and he’ll be looking to turn his 107* into a huge score on Day Three.
Mark Stoneman - 3
Looked in good nick early on to reach 15 but chipped the ball back to Nathan Lyon, who took a sharp catch.
James Vince - 3
Oh, James!
He reached 17 with little fuss before being given out LBW to Josh Hazlewood. He walked off, however, replays showed he clearly hit the ball. He obviously didn’t feel the nick, but that was a costly error on his behalf.
Joe Root - 8
A welcome return to form for the captain who ended the day on 49*. He, like Cook, looked more like his old self.
James Anderson - 8
Two more wickets for England’s main man, who bowled beautifully once again.
Stuart Broad - 9
After a pretty poor series so far, Broad looked somewhere near his best once again as he took three wickets on Day Two.
He even used a review correctly to remove the dangerous Shaun Marsh!
Chris Woakes - 7
Got the wicket of Mitch Marsh, who was one of three Aussie batsmen to drag the ball into their stumps.
Tom Curran - 7
After being denied his first Test wicket on Day One thanks to a no ball, he finally got it in Day Two and Steve Smith isn’t a bad first wicket to take!
Moeen Ali - 2
The only downside of England’s bowling effort on Day Two was Moeen. He looks devoid of confidence and is bowling too many poor balls.
Steve Smith - 2
Even the world’s best player can have a bad day!
Played a poor shot to drag an average ball from Curran onto his stumps, dropped Alastair Cook on 66 and bowled the last over of the day, in which he pretty much handed Cook the runs he needed to go to 100.
Shaun Marsh - 5
Looked like he was set for another big score as he reached 61 but he missed a straight ball and was out LBW to Broad.
Mitch Marsh - 3
Not a great day for the Aussie all-rounder who played a bad shot to drag the ball on. He was only given four overs with the ball but he went for 17 runs, although he would have had Cook’s wicket if not for the drop by Smith.
Tim Paine - 6
Counter-attacked well to reach 24 before he too dragged a pull shot onto his stumps.
Pat Cummins - 3
A rare failure with the bat as he edged Broad behind. He didn’t look too threatening with the ball either as he was struggling with illness.
Josh Hazlewood - 6
Wasn’t at his best with the new ball but returned after tea to get rid of Vince, albeit with a bit of good fortune.
Nathan Lyon - 7
Our for a duck with the bat. Took the first England wicket to fall with a smart catch and kept control for his captain during a difficult period in the game.