MELBOURNE — The 2023-24 Ashes series has been secured by Australia, but the narrative of this compelling contest was rewritten in dramatic fashion at the MCG. A stunning England victory by 28 runs, built on the back of a masterful declaration and a relentless bowling performance, has set up a grandstand finale in Sydney. Chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt delivers his player ratings after a fourth Test that proved this England side, as the great Shane Warne might have said, "has a touch of genius."
For two days, this match followed a familiar, grim script for England: a batting collapse leaving them 176-7, before Australia's openers cruised to 61-0 in reply. Then came the moment of inspiration from captain Ben Stokes. His bold declaration, dragging his bowlers off the field with Joe Root on 86 not out, was a psychological masterstroke. It changed the entire complexion of the game, injecting chaos into Australian minds and setting in motion a chain of events that led to a famous win. The series stands at 2-1, with everything to play for at the SCG.
England Player Ratings
Zak Crawley (6/10): A series of contrasts. His first-innings 38 was a breezy, confident knock that set a positive tone, but he fell driving loosely. Second time around, he grafted for a crucial 73, showing a maturity often questioned. His fielding at second slip, however, remains a concern, putting down a costly chance.
Ben Duckett (7/10): The pint-sized opener continues to defy expectations. His 41 in the first innings was a lesson in manipulating the field and scoring quickly against the new ball. He was less fluent in the second but provided a platform. His value to this aggressive setup is immense.
Joe Root (9/10): The beating heart of England's batting. His unbeaten 86 in the first innings was a classic Root performance: elegant, busy, and perfectly paced to shepherd the tail. He was visibly furious at the declaration, a mark of his hunger for runs, but it was a sacrifice for the team cause. His bowling, including the key wicket of Steve Smith, was a bonus.
Ollie Pope (4/10): A disappointing match for the vice-captain. Out cheaply in both innings playing indeterminate strokes, he looks caught between aggression and defence. His sharp catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne was a highlight, but his place will come under scrutiny.
Harry Brook (7/10): The young tyro announced himself on the Ashes stage with a magnificent, counter-attacking 61 in the second innings. After a nervy start, he took on the Australian attack with breathtaking power, particularly through the off-side. He provides the explosive middle-order impetus England craves.
Ben Stokes (Captain - 10/10): A rating reserved for genuine match-winning inspiration. His bowling, though physically taxing, yielded the vital wicket of Travis Head in the final innings. But this was a victory forged in his mind.
- The declaration was a staggering act of tactical bravado.
- His fields were constantly aggressive and innovative.
- He managed his bowlers, especially the returning Mark Wood, superbly.
Jonny Bairstow (8/10): A triumphant return to form. His pugnacious 78 in the first innings, full of powerful drives and pulls, rescued England from the abyss. He was tidy behind the stumps, with his catch to dismiss Alex Carey a crucial moment. The swagger is back.
Chris Woakes (6/10): A solid, understated contribution. He chipped in with vital runs in both innings, forming key partnerships. With the ball, he was economical and picked up the prize wicket of Usman Khawaja in the first innings. A reliable team man.
Mark Wood (9/10): The difference-maker. Returning to the side, his sheer pace electrified the match. He shattered David Warner's stumps twice in a brutal display and cleaned up the tail in the final innings to finish with 6/137. He changed the dimension of England's attack. "Wood is the X-factor England have been crying out for," wrote former captain Michael Atherton.
Ollie Robinson (7/10): The metronome. He bowled with relentless discipline, conceding less than two runs per over across both innings. His nagging line and length built pressure, exemplified by his dismissal of a frustrated Marnus Labuschagne. A perfect foil for Wood's fireworks.
James Anderson (8/10): The master at work. Wicketless in the first innings, he produced a spell of vintage Anderson in the second, moving the ball both ways under lights to remove Marcus Harris and nightwatchman Scott Boland. His control and economy were paramount.
Australia Player Ratings
David Warner (3/10): A nightmare match. Twice cleaned up by Mark Wood's thunderbolts, he now averages just 15.00 in the series. His technical frailties against extreme pace have been ruthlessly exposed. His place for Sydney is under immense threat.
Usman Khawaja (7/10): The series' leading run-scorer was again Australia's most composed batter. A first-innings 58 was a model of patience and skill. He fell to a good ball from Woakes in the second, but he remains the rock of this top order.
Marnus Labuschagne (5/10): A strangely subdued performance. He looked uncharacteristically scratchy in both innings, eventually falling to loose drives. His frustration was palpable. The world's number one batter has been good, but not at his prolific best this series.
Steve Smith (6/10): A quiet game by his extraordinary standards. He looked set in the first innings before being undone by a Root special. In the nerve-shredding run chase, he battled hard for 28 but was bowled by a beauty from Stokes. He remains a looming threat.
Travis Head (4/10): Failed to provide his customary counter-punch. Dismissed cheaply by Stokes in the first innings, he was then brilliantly caught by Stokes off Wood in the second just as he threatened to break the game open. A key weapon neutralised.
Cameron Green (5/10): His impact with the ball was minimal, and his batting continues to disappoint. Out hooking in the first innings, he played a poor shot to mid-on in the second during the critical chase. The all-rounder promise is yet to be fully realised this series.
Alex Carey (6/10): Excellent behind the stumps, with several sharp takes. With the bat, he played a horrid shot to be caught down the leg-side in the first innings, but showed great composure in the second with a battling 46, nearly steering Australia home.
Pat Cummins (Captain - 5/10): A difficult match for the skipper. He bowled with heart but lacked his usual penetration, and his batting failed twice under pressure. More concerning was his tactical response to Stokes's declaration; Australia seemed reactive and rattled. He admitted afterwards, "We probably got a bit ahead of ourselves thinking about the total, rather than just playing the ball."
Mitchell Starc (7/10): Australia's best bowler. He was relentless with the new ball, claiming 4/82 in the first innings including the key wicket of Stokes. He threatened consistently and added valuable lower-order runs. A tireless effort.
Nathan Lyon (6/10): Kept relatively quiet on a pitch that didn't offer him excessive turn. He bowled with his usual control and picked up three wickets, but was unable to run through England as he has done so often in the past.
Scott Boland (5/10): The MCG hero of 2021 found the going tougher this time. He lacked his customary metronomic control and was targeted by England's batters in their second-innings push. A rare off game for the local favourite.
Verdict and Looking Ahead
This was England's Test, defined by Stokes's fearless leadership. Australia, for the first time in the series, looked mentally fragile, their batting crumbling under the weight of a cleverly manufactured chase. The momentum has decisively shifted. England's bold approach, once labelled reckless, has been vindicated and has exposed cracks in the Australian armour. The SCG now hosts a live series, with England believing they can achieve the impossible. Australia must regroup quickly. The final chapter of this epic Ashes tale promises to be unmissable.