FOR the fourth time this series, England has tasted defeat.

In many ways, the English will be happy this humiliation is all over. In others, they’ve probably not felt worse all series — just ask skipper Joe Root, who wound up in hospital on Monday as he battled severe dehydration before bravely marching back out into the middle to try and save his team.

If his teammates had shown half as much fight this series, Australia wouldn’t have charged to a 4-0 series victory.



But here they are. And here we are, with their player ratings from the innings-and-123-run battering they copped at the SCG.

England openers Alastair Cook (R) and Mark Stoneman. Source: AFP

ALASTAIR COOK — 4

39 and 10

On a good batting deck, England needed something for their elder statesman, who rediscovered his best in the Boxing Day Test. In Sydney, he reverted to what we’ve expected this Ashes and returned two mediocre scores. Became just the sixth man in Test cricket to pass 12,000 runs on Sunday — a fine achievement — but never looked comfortable in the second innings, failing to make the most of a live given by Shaun Marsh.

MARK STONEMAN — 3

24 and 0

A very ordinary performance with the bat, with Stoneman rolled for a duck in the second dig to bring an end to his Ashes. Was the first man out on day one, fending a good short ball from Pat Cummins to the keeper. Gets a point for his deadeye run-out of Shaun Marsh — even though the game was long gone by that point, it was a rare bright spot for England during two long days in the field.

JAMES VINCE — 1.5

25 and 18

A damp end to a poor series, Vince played arguably the two worst shots of the match in his cheap dismissals. Had played a handful of nice cover drives — stop me if you’ve heard this before — in the first innings before a loose flash feathered a short, wide Pat Cummins delivery to keeper Tim Paine. Looked no better on day four, when he was tangled up by Nathan Lyon and nicked off more than once before a chance finally went to hand. Doesn’t look good enough for this level.

JOE ROOT — 8

83 and 58 (retired ill)

Gave his all — and literally ended up in hospital because of it. Root was hospitalised with severe dehydration, having spent the night vomiting after picking up a viral gastroenteritis bug. He would go on to post a brave half-century, finishing 58 before he succumbed to the effects of the virus and retired ill a second time. In truth, the SCG brought out the best batting of the series for England’s captain, who cut a disconsolate figure after being dismissed 17 runs shy of what would’ve been a thoroughly well-deserved first century of the summer. As it happened, that was the beginning of the end for England in this Test.

DAWID MALAN — 6.5

62 and 5

Outside of Root, Malan looked England’s best bat in the first innings and showed great application as Australia tried to take hold. Unfortunately fell to a Steve Smith screamer — with the Australian captain diving low and to his left after a thick edge from Malan. In the second knock, he attempted to stonewall through to stumps — but was trapped by Nathan Lyon for 5.





JONNY BAIRSTOW — 5

5 and 38

One catch, one stumping

Was hung, drawn and quartered for his gung-ho decision to spurn a nightwatchman and send himself in late on day one. He batted aggressively, hit a nice cover drive for four and then copped a gem from Josh Hazlewood which took a faint edge and sent him on his way. Bairstow was tidy behind the stumps — as he has been all series — and helped effect a sharp stumping to remove Usman Khawaja to give Mason Crane his debut wicket. Held Australia at bay, briefly, on day five.





England's Moeen Ali walks off after being trapped LBW by Australia's Nathan Lyon. Source: AP



MOEEN ALI — 3.5

30 and 13

2-170



Looked as good with ball and bat as he has all series — but that says more about how poor he’s been than how well he played here. Never looked comfortable with the bat, but at least showed more application and fight than in his putrid MCG display. Undone by the short ball in the first knock, and then bowled as well as he has all series — getting good grip off the pitch. Took the key wicket of Steve Smith — a shock to everyone at the SCG and beyond — and bagged a consolation scalp when Mitchell Starc was swinging for the fences. A second innings 13 didn’t do England any favours as they attempted to dig in for a draw.



TOM CURRAN — 5

39 and 23 not out

1-82

Rarely threatened with the ball for two days before bowling a jaffa which knocked over Mitch Marsh’s off stump. Outside of that, he was pedestrian. Showed good fight with the bat in both innings, hitting six boundaries in the first dig to push England past 300 before swinging heartily on day five as well.



STUART BROAD — 3

1-121

31 and 4

Broad’s MCG rejuvenation was nowhere to be seen in Sydney. He took a wicket with his second delivery — a cracker, beating Cameron Bancroft through the gate — to put Australia on the backfoot. He then went through 29.4 overs without ever threatening again. Swung the bat in the first innings but looks a shadow of his best.





MASON CRANE — 3

1-193

A tough old game for the young leg-spinner who recorded the worst ever figures by an England debutant. He bowled better than those stats suggest — and looks to be a player of promise who can rip the ball — but they’re impossible to ignore. He also copped a two-day razzing from the SCG crowd for frequently pulling out of his run-up. He’ll be better for the experience.



JAMES ANDERSON — 7

1-56

It’s quite remarkable to think a frontline quick could hold his head high after an innings in which the opposition declared its innings seven wickets down with 649 runs on the board. Even more so when that attack-leading star took just one wicket from 34 overs. But Anderson deserves that honour. He was outstanding in trying conditions, recorded a brilliant economy rate of 1.64 and had Australia under pressure throughout when he had the ball in hand. Look at his spell with the third new ball — when he had the settled Marsh brothers, both well settled in their knocks, playing and missing in a sharp, probing spell.