Australia's emphatic success against England in the 5-0 Ashes whitewash will do wonders for the team's confidence following recent hammerings at the hands of the old foe and India.

But with a Test tour of South Africa just around the corner (starting February 5), Australia would be wise to go over what went right and wrong for them against England with a fine-tooth comb.

One of England's many problems in this tour was complacency following its 3-0 Ashes win in July and August, which many experts said was far closer than the scoreline suggested.

So who earned their keep and whose place is under pressure in the Australian camp?

Australia's top batsmen Innings Runs Average Best 100s 50s NOs David Warner 10 523 58.11 124 2 2 1 Brad Haddin 8 493 61.62 118 1 5 0 Chris Rogers 10 463 46.30 119 2 3 0 Michael Clarke 10 363 40.33 148 2 0 1 Shane Watson 10 345 38.33 103 1 2 1 Steve Smith 9 327 40.87 115 2 0 1 George Bailey 8 183 26.14 53 0 1 1 Mitchell Johnson 8 165 27.50 64 0 1 2 Ryan Harris 6 117 23.40 55* 0 1 1 Nathan Lyon 6 60 - 18* 0 0 6 Peter Siddle 7 38 6.33 21 0 0 1

Chris Rogers

Grade: B+

Brisbane: 1, 16 Adelaide: 72, 2 Perth: 11, 54 Melbourne: 61, 116 Sydney: 11, 119

Chris Rogers' two centuries have secured his place as a Test opener. ( Getty Images: Michael Dodge )

Australia's renaissance man endured a difficult start to the series, scoring just two half-tons in six innings while other team-mates did the damage to reclaim the Ashes.

But he made up for lost time in a big way at the MCG and SCG, scoring two centuries (both at strike-rates above 70) and a fifty to secure his place for future Test tours.

Despite his early difficulties, Rogers provided a superb foil to Warner's more blistering knocks. When his partner lost form in the final two Tests, it was Rogers who stepped up with the big innings.

Having finally secured his place in the Test team after so many years in the county cricket wilderness, his two centuries will provide a boost in self-belief for a batsman that has proved he belongs at this level.

David Warner

Grade: A-

Brisbane: 49, 124 Adelaide: 29, 83 Perth: 60, 112 Melbourne: 9, 25 Sydney: 16, 16

David Warner sparkled early but faded later in the series. ( Getty: Quinn Rooney )

Warner was determined to demonstrate a different dimension to his batting this series, making a visible effort to add patience to his usual belligerence.

All doubts over his place in Australia's Test cricket fold were swatted away in the first half of the series as he piled on the runs in the first three Tests. He top scored for the series with 523 runs at an average of 58.11.

But Warner was part of the top order's first innings failings for much of the series, with none of his first knocks bettering his second innings scores.

While his batting style has matured to the point he will be a fixture in the Test side for years to come, his best performances came once the bowlers had already put England under severe pressure.

Shane Watson

Grade: C

Brisbane: 22, 6 Adelaide: 51, 0 Perth: 18, 103 Melbourne: 10, 83* Sydney: 43, 9

Shane Watson's batting remains as inconsistent as ever. ( Getty Images: Mark Kolbe )

Age-old concerns of Shane Watson's inability to convert fifties into hundreds barely surfaced this series, only for the fact that he only scored two half-tons.

Watson's batting performances across the series were littered with failures - arguably six out of his 10 innings.

But his 103 in Perth off just 108 deliveries did contribute to a whirlwind second innings that put the nail in the coffin for England's Ashes hopes.

Watson's bowling took a back seat this series, taking four wickets over eight bowling innings.

His busiest outing with the ball was in Perth, where he took match figures of 2 for 87 at an economy of 3.78.

Brisbane: DNB, 0-0 Adelaide: 1-0, 0-6 Perth: 1-48, 1-39 Melbourne: 1-11, 0-13 Sydney: 0-5, DNB

Michael Clarke

Grade: B

Brisbane: 1, 113 Adelaide: 148, 22 Perth: 24, 23 Melbourne: 10, 6* Sydney: 10, 6

Clarke's captaincy was exemplary, but his batting form dipped in the second half of the series. ( Getty: Cameron Spencer )

Michael Clarke's lasting legacy from this series will be the way he rallied his troops from the disappointments of the Indian and English tours to completely outplaying the old foe.

His side won the series almost on sheer hunger alone, but his exploitation of his bowlers' purple patches and winning the key moments showed why Clarke is one of world cricket's best captains.

But his form with the willow, while sparkling in the first two Tests, diminished sharply from Perth onwards.

His team carried his average performance with the bat in both innings at the WACA, while he shared in the team's failure at the MCG, when they were all out for just 204.

Identical scores in Sydney mean he will have a bit to prove in future tours.

While he contributed to the top-order failure in the first Brisbane innings, he came back strong to notch a quickfire century as Australia totted up 401 runs to put England under more pressure.

His 148 in Adelaide held together arguably the top-four's strongest performance of the series. It was a moderately-paced innings of quality that helped Australia towards an unassailable 570.

Steve Smith

Grade: B

Brisbane: 31, 0 Adelaide: 6, 23* Perth: 111, 15 Melbourne: 19, DNB Sydney: 115, 7

Steve Smith secured his immediate Test future with two crucial Ashes centuries. ( Getty Images: Cameron Spencer )

Smith's high-point of the series came in his crucial partnerships with Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in Perth, which yielded a second Test century for the right-handed batsman.

Throughout the series, Smith had several starts without converting into big innings, as well as a handful of failures with the bat.

But his Perth ton and the 115 he hit (again alongside Haddin) in Sydney proved his talent with the bat at Test level, and looks enough to secure his place in the side for the immediate future.

For bonus points, his leg-breaks picked up the wicket of Ian Bell in Adelaide.

His next task to cement his place for good in the Australian line-up is to develop the consistency fitting for a number five batsman.

George Bailey

Grade: D

Brisbane: 3, 34 Adelaide: 53, DNB Perth: 7, 39* Melbourne: 0, DNB Sydney: 1, 46

Criticisms of George Bailey's defensive shots still remain. ( AAP Images: Paul Miller )

Many hoped George Bailey could convert his superb ODI form against India into Test runs, but ultimately the Baggy Green looked out of place on the the new man's head.

Criticisms over his defensive shots remain, while runs only seemed to come when he threw caution to the wind.

A series tally of 183 runs at an average of 26.14 proved a poor return for the 31-year-old.

A rare bright spot came in Perth when he carted James Anderson for 28 monster runs in a single over.

While his seniority in Australia's limited-overs squads was another reason for trialling him in Test cricket, his place at number six looks to be one Australia can improve on.

His best moments in the series came in the field at silly mid-on, taking some sharp catches and riling English batsmen - with many Tests under their belt - with chirpy remarks under his breath.

Brad Haddin

Grade: A+

Brisbane: 94, 53 Adelaide: 118, DNB Perth: 55, 5 Melbourne: 65, DNB Sydney: 75, 28

Brad Haddin's counter-attacking batting rescued Australia on numerous occassions. ( Getty Images: Mark Kolbe )

The real batting star of the series. On a number of occasions, Brad Haddin stepped up big time for Australia when the chips were down in the first innings.

Usually an out-and-out aggressive batsman, the senior stalwart mixed grit and flair in his counter-attacking innings.

Dovetailing superbly with Johnson, Harris and Smith across the series, Haddin was Australia's man for a crisis, turning a host of English positions of superiority into Australian advantage.

He was as consistent with the bat as Johnson was with the ball, but his glove-work has also been rightly praised. Only the loosest of deliveries got past him for byes, showing age is just a number with some full-stretched dives to save runs behind the wicket.

The vice-captain's seniority proved priceless to captain Clarke, with both leaders often positioned together at keeper and slip, and their collective strategising bore obvious fruit in a series whitewash.

Australia's top bowlers Overs Maidens Runs Wickets BBI BBM Average Mitchell Johnson 188.4 51 517 37 7-40 9-103 13.97 Ryan Harris 166.2 50 425 22 5-25 8-61 19.31 Nathan Lyon 176.2 42 558 19 5-50 6-117 29.36 Peter Siddle 156.4 48 386 16 4-57 5-91 24.12 Shane Watson 47.4 17 122 4 1-0 2-87 30.50 Steve Smith 11.0 1 58 1 1-43 1-43 58.00

Mitchell Johnson

Grade: A+

Brisbane: 4-61, 5-42 Adelaide: 7-40, 1-73 Perth: 2-62, 4-78 Melbourne: 5-63, 3-25 Sydney: 3-33, 3-40

Mitchell Johnson defined the Ashes series with ferocious, destructive bowling. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

The star of the show, which will rightly be remembered as "Mitchell's Ashes". Mitchell Johnson rediscovered his mojo in fearsome fashion at home against England.

His wayward line and length looks a thing of the past as he bowled in the corridor of uncertainty with ferocious regularity.

Grandstand's Kerry O'Keeffe dubbed his aggressive bumpers "armpit balls" - deliveries which hit the pitch hard and bounce up at the rib-cage - and no batsman was able to cope with him for any extended period.

Fingers were bruised, stumps were skittled and the slips and gully fielders got plenty of catching practice.

His form with the bat also proved he is of genuine all-rounder class, with his most important knock coming in Brisbane. He played an excellent support role for Brad Haddin to make 64 and help rescue Australia, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

He was everywhere in the field at the MCG as well, running Joe Root out with a direct hit, while his handlebar moustache ensured a high demand for his autograph on the boundary rope.

Brisbane: 64, 39* Adelaide: 5, DNB Perth: 39, 0* Melbourne: 2, DNB Sydney: 12, 4

Ryan Harris

Grade: A

Brisbane: 3-28, 2-49 Adelaide: 0-31, 3-54 Perth: 3-48, 1-73 Melbourne: 2-47, 0-34 Sydney: 3-36, 5-25

Ryan Harris was accurate, economical and probing with the ball. ( Getty Images: Robert Cianflone )

It was always going to be a tough gig in Johnson's shadow, but Ryan Harris's unerring accuracy and tight line proved crucial to Australia's efforts with the ball.

England never managed to get on top of him at any point when it mattered.

The only time he erred was in Perth, copping 73 runs in 19 overs, but even then he produced a jaffer delivery to remove Alastair Cook on his first ball, sparking delirium in the WACA stands.

While he was never able to compile a truly sizeable innings with the bat - Adelaide excepted - his technique remains excellent for someone coming in at nine or 10.

His unbeaten 55 off 54 deliveries (six fours, two sixes) rubbed salt in England's wounds as he helped rush the end of Australia's Adelaide innings to 9 for 570.

Brisbane: 9, DNB Adelaide: 55*, DNB Perth: 12, DNB Melbourne: 6, DNB Sydney: 22, 13

Peter Siddle

Grade: B

Brisbane: 1-24, 1-25 Adelaide: 1-34, 4-57 Perth: 3-36, 1-67 Melbourne: 1-50, 1-46 Sydney: 3-23, 0-24

Peter Siddle played a support role under Harris and Johnson. ( Getty Images: Robert Cianflone )



Arguably Australia's best bowler in England, Siddle returned to Australia as a water-carrier for Johnson and Harris's heroics.

He took wickets in nine of England's 10 innings and was his usual tireless self throughout.

His best performances with the ball arguably came in Sydney (3 for 23 at an economy of 1.76) as the tourists wilted for 155 all out in the first dig. He also returned a four-wicket haul in Adelaide.

While it is not the cornerstone of Siddle's worth to the team, his performances with the bat have stooped lately.

Nevertheless, he gives Australia the chance of a wag in the tail every time he is named in the line-up.

Brisbane: 7, 4* Adelaide: 2, DNB Perth: 21, DNB Melbourne: 0, DNB Sydney: 0, 4

Nathan Lyon

Grade: B+

Brisbane: 2-17, 2-46 Adelaide: 1-64, 1-78 Perth: 1-39, 3-70 Melbourne: 1-67, 5-50 Sydney: 1-57, 2-70

Nathan Lyon procured a wicket in every innings of the Ashes series. ( Getty Images: Quinn Rooney )

Nathan Lyon proved his worth as Australia's number-one spin bowler, taking wickets in every single one of Australia's innings.

His economy in Brisbane was superb, and his five-for at the MCG was just reward for a series of crafty pressure bowling.

Bogged down thanks to Johnson's destruction, the English never had a chance to truly attack Lyon. When they did, the match was already a lost cause in the second innings of the dead-rubber Test at the SCG.

Lyon also had the quirky honour of being the only Australian batsman to not be dismissed once in the series.

His batting appears less nervy than in years past, and his ability to get into double figures regularly and quickly proved a constant irritant to England's bowlers.

Brisbane: 1*, DNB Adelaide: 17*, DNB Perth: 17*, DNB Melbourne: 18*, DNB Sydney: 1*, 6*

Where must Australia improve?

The real test ... Dale Steyn will lead a hungry Proteas pace attack against a vulnerable Australian top order. ( AFP Photo: Anesh Debiky )

Australia's next big test looms in the form of its tour to the world's number one Test side, South Africa.

As a bowling unit, Australia's can now be considered as good as the Proteas', with the collective of Johnson, Harris and Siddle more than capable of mixing it with Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.

However, the big question remains over how Australia's top order will be able to cope with the quality of South Africa's attack. The Proteas regularly dismiss sides (including Australia in recent times) of scores closer to 50 than 500.

Australian opener Warner could prove a big success against the Proteas pacemen, or could offer a host of chances off Philander's placement or Steyn's devilish swing. Similarly, Rogers will have to be at his studious best to uphold the opening partnership.

It could prove do-or-die for Watson's place in the side if more failures follow with the bat, while Clarke's latest hunt for form and Smith's search for consistency will be tested.

From South Africa's batting point of view, even without the retiring Jacques Kallis, the likes of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis are likely to show far greater character against Australia's aggression than England ever offered.

Graeme Smith is one of the world's best openers, though his old worries against a rejuvenated Johnson may again resurface, while his partner Alviro Petersen is highly rated in South Africa.

Australia will be buoyed by its recent successes in the republic, having secured a 2-1 series win in 2008/09 and a 1-1 draw in 2011. As a result, anything could happen in the upcoming tour, though Australia would be wise to consider South Africa the favourites.