England ended a nearly 15-year wait for a Test victory in Australia with a dramatic four-wicket win over the hosts in a remarkable two-day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). In one of the most chaotic and unforgettable matches in Ashes history, England embraced the extreme conditions to secure a morale-boosting triumph in a series that had otherwise been dominated by Australia.

With the match completed inside 48 hours and wickets tumbling relentlessly, individual performances took on heightened importance. Some players thrived amid the chaos, while others were exposed by the demanding pitch and relentless pressure.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the Ashes player ratings from the Melbourne Test.

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England Player Ratings

Ben Duckett – 6/10

Duckett will have been relieved to be back in action after a difficult spell off the field. His first-innings dismissal followed a familiar pattern, falling across the line once again, but his aggression at the top of the order in the second innings helped England seize early momentum in a tricky chase.

Zak Crawley – 6/10

Another England opener under scrutiny, Crawley responded well in the second innings by playing positively and setting the tone. However, with more conventional batting conditions expected in Sydney, he remains under pressure to deliver a defining score.

Jacob Bethell – 6/10

Bethell justified his surprise inclusion with a composed and technically sound 40 in the second innings. His calmness stood out amid the mayhem, and it will be intriguing to see how he fares on a flatter pitch, where his stroke play could flourish.

Joe Root – 3/10

A forgettable match by Root’s lofty standards. A duck in the first innings put England on the back foot, though his gritty 15 in the second prevented Australia from running through the middle order. He has looked slightly out of rhythm since his superb hundred earlier in the series.

Harry Brook – 7/10

Brook’s swashbuckling 41 in the first innings proved to be the most influential knock of the match. While his attacking instincts can frustrate purists, this was a reminder of his rare talent. Unorthodox, fearless and decisive — Brook truly has a touch of genius.

Ben Stokes – 7/10

Stokes once again led from the front. His vital first-innings runs and crucial bowling spell after Gus Atkinson’s injury underlined his value. After a tough tour, this victory felt like a deserved reward for his leadership and resilience.

Jamie Smith – 4/10

Smith showed improvement behind the stumps but continued to stand unusually deep, costing England potential chances. His batting contribution was minimal, and questions remain about whether technical tweaks are being addressed behind the scenes.

Will Jacks – 2/10

A quiet and frustrating match. Jacks neither bowled nor made a meaningful impact with the bat, and a dropped catch compounded his struggles. Still, he can at least say he was part of a rare England Test win on Australian soil.

Gus Atkinson – 6/10

Atkinson’s most encouraging performance of the series came at cruel cost. He bowled with greater control and chipped in with crucial lower-order runs, only for a hamstring injury to potentially end his tour prematurely.

Brydon Carse – 7/10

Carse grew into the match superbly. After a slow start, he found his rhythm on day two and delivered his best bowling performance of the series. Extra credit for the sheer audacity of being sent in at number three as a pinch-hitter.

Josh Tongue – 7/10

Outstanding on day one, Tongue’s five-wicket haul set the tone for England’s victory. His continued success against Steve Smith only added to his growing reputation. Fully deserving of the Player of the Match award and a strong contender for England’s first-choice attack.

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Australia Player Ratings

Jake Weatherald – 2/10

Weatherald has struggled to convince at Test level since his early promise. England failed to exploit his vulnerability earlier in the series, but his lack of impact here further raised questions about his place.

Travis Head – 6/10

Despite a poor career record at the MCG, Head produced the highest score of the match. While not fluent, his resistance was valuable on a pitch that offered little mercy.

Marnus Labuschagne – 2/10

Labuschagne looked uncomfortable throughout, undone by movement and bounce. His recent form continues to trend downward, and his recall is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.

Steve Smith – 5/10

Smith was left stranded in the second innings as partners fell around him. His struggles against Josh Tongue continued, but he earns credit for accurately predicting the severity of batting conditions before the match.

Usman Khawaja – 4/10

Khawaja showed patience in the first innings without scoring freely, then fell for a duck in the second. With age and form now under scrutiny, questions linger over whether Sydney could mark the end of his Test career.

Alex Carey – 4/10

A subdued outing with the bat for one of Australia’s most consistent performers this series. However, his work behind the stumps remained sharp and reliable.

Cameron Green – 4/10

Green threatened without delivering. A run out in the first innings and a loose shot in the second summed up a frustrating match. His gradual slide down the order hints at growing uncertainty over his role.

Michael Neser – 7/10

Australia’s standout performer in the first innings, contributing with both bat and ball. Conditions suited his skill set perfectly, though flatter pitches may test his effectiveness.

Mitchell Starc – 4/10

Surprisingly ineffective in conditions that should have favoured him. His dropped catch of Ben Duckett proved costly, and his overall impact fell short of expectations.

Jhye Richardson – 3/10

A long-awaited Test return ended in disappointment. Used sparingly, Richardson struggled to influence the match during his brief two-day involvement.

Scott Boland – 6/10

Boland could not recreate his iconic Boxing Day heroics from four years ago, but contributed solidly. Extra credit for the unusual feat of batting at number 11 and opening the bowling on the same day.