ASHES FOURTH TEST PLAYER RATINGS: Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow star as England dominate despite draw at Old Trafford… but which three players only managed a THREE out of 10?

Australia retained the Ashes with a whimper on Sunday after the day was wiped out due to bad weather, meaning the fourth Test ended in a draw.

England were in a battle against time to take the final five Australia wickets on the last two days, but they were allowed only 30 overs over the weekend and failed to do so.

While Ben Stokes‘s side can still draw the series at the Oval next week, they will be unable to win back the urn after losing the first two Test matches.

England will be favourites to do just that but will be downhearted that they have had the opportunity to set up a nail-biting finale in the capital.

Below, Mail Sport‘s Lawrence Booth examines how each player performed at Old Trafford.

Ben Stokes was left powerless as rain meant there was no play possible on day five

The draw means Pat Cummins and Australia retain the Ashes despite being dominated

England

Zak Crawley 9.5 – This is why England stuck with him through the lean times. Yes, he enjoyed moments of luck. But what other opener in English cricket could have smashed a world-class attack for 189 in 182 balls? A joy to watch.

Ben Duckett 3 – Fell cheaply to Starc and the new ball, which can happen, but still in credit after his Lord’s double of 98 and 83. In the Bazball era, he averages 54 with a strike-rate of 89.

Moeen Ali 7 – Mocked in some quarters as a fake No 3, Ali rose to the challenge with his first Test fifty in four and a half years. He also dismissed Labuschagne for the second time in two games with his rusty off-breaks.

Joe Root 8 – After a couple of quiet Tests with the bat, he looked odds on for a century until he was bowled by one from Hazlewood that barely bounced. Gave England hope with the wicket of Labuschagne on the rainy fourth day.

Harry Brook 7 – Ticked off his 10th score of 50-plus in just his 19th innings, although it lacked some of his usual panache. Australia did well to slow his progress on the second evening, but he has grown into this series.

Ben Stokes 7.5 – Lived up to his pre-match promise that England would go for broke because of the weather forecast, contributing 51 to their most destructive Ashes total of all time. Harsh to say he should have pushed for a three-day win.

Zak Crawley showed why England stuck with him as he smashed a world class attack 

Jonny Bairstow also joined the party with a scintillating 99 not out on day three at Old Trafford

Jonny Bairstow 9 – He’s back! After a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Marsh on the opening day, Bairstow’s hitting electrified the third, when he blazed 99 not out. No one, not even Stokes, can time the ball so cleanly.

Chris Woakes 8 – Carried on where he left off at Headingley, picking up his first Ashes five-for, and taking over from Broad as Warner’s nemesis, removing him twice. Now has 106 Test wickets in England at an average of 22.

Mark Wood 8 – One of the stories of the series, he deserved to be celebrating another win after breaking open Australia’s second innings with the scalps of Khawaja, Smith and Head. His 11 wickets in these Ashes have cost just 17 each.

Stuart Broad 7 – Removed the adhesive Khawaja in the game’s fifth over, then brought up 600 Test wickets by inducing a mishit from Head. Still the leading wicket-taker in the series, with 18.

Jimmy Anderson 6 – Didn’t bowl badly, but lacked nip, and had to settle for the lone wicket of Cummins. His economy-rate of 2.69 in this series is the meanest on either side, but Australia have sat on him, limiting him to four expensive wickets. Has he just played his final Test?

James Anderson was far from his best at his home ground and may have played his final Test

Australia

David Warner 6 – Made 32 and 28, which meant he survived Broad’s opening bursts, but then fell twice to Woakes. Has walked off grinning in previous games: not this time. It was a chance missed, and he knew it.

Usman Khawaja 3 – After three Tests of stoical resistance, the dam finally burst, with scores of three and 18. Compounded his second-innings failure by using up a review after he edged Wood.

Marnus Labuschagne 8.5 – Finally passed 50, then added his first Ashes hundred in this country to lead Australia’s resistance. Even took the precaution of examining the ball after England had it changed, in case it was about to swing more than the old one.

Marnus Labuschagne finally scored his first 50 of the series and backed it up with a century

Steve Smith 6 – Undone twice by the pace of Wood, and has not looked himself since his first-innings hundred at Lord’s. England have done superbly to limit him to a series average of 31. Still runs the show in the field, despite Cummins wearing the armband.

Travis Head 6 – Looked busy in the first innings for 48, only to help Broad into the hands of Root at fine leg. Knew nothing about the ball with which Wood bounced him out on the third evening, and walked off looking chastened.

Mitchell Marsh 8 – For the second game in a row since his recall he looked one of Australia’s most accomplished operators. Fell victim to a superb catch from Bairstow on the first day, then held firm amid the showers on the fourth. Bowled nine hittable overs.

Cameron Green 5.5 – Not made the impact on this series we were led to expect, though he did end Crawley’s fun, and removed Anderson to deprive Bairstow of a century. His economy-rate of 4.08 was comfortably his side’s best, which wasn’t saying much.

Alex Carey has been a diminished figure since his controversial stumping of Bairstow

Cummins had an all-round shocker andd was saved by the rain during the fourth Test

Alex Carey 5 – Has been a diminished figure since he stumped Bairstow at Lord’s, and seemed to be playing for the close far too early on the first day. Woakes ensured he didn’t get there. Later bungled a chance to run out Stokes.

Mitchell Starc 5 – Batted well for two hours, but then took a pasting after his early removal of Duckett. Only once in his 81 Tests has he conceded more than the 137 he cost here, but Australia will need him to put this behind him at The Oval.

Pat Cummins 3 – Has a captain ever retained the Ashes in more underwhelming circumstances? Had an all-round shocker: went for 129, his most in a Test innings, fell to the first ball of the second day, dropped catches, conceded overthrows and lost control in the field. Then needed two days of rain to ensure the draw.

Josh Hazlewood 6.5 – Picked up one of the most easily forgotten five-fors in Ashes history. His haul included Root with a grubber, and three of England’s bottom four. Should be less tired for The Oval than his team-mates after being rested at Headingley.