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It has ended up a familiar story in the Ashes, with Australia winning comfortably on home soil for the fourth series in a row.
They have now won 17 of the last 20 Tests against England in Australia, with the tourists’ victory in the Boxing Day Test their only success Down Under since 2011.
It was a series of TikTok cricket at times, with games played at a furious pace, even if the overall outcome felt inevitable after Travis Head swatted the hosts to their win inside two days in Perth.
Test careers are often made and broken during Ashes contests, so who cemented legendary status this time around? And who will be unfavourably compared to Mason Crane in years to come?
Welcome to our Ashes player rankings, from 31 to one.
31. Mark Wood
England’s quickest bowler only managed 11 overs in Perth before he (sadly, rather predictably) became the first of a quartet of the tourists’ pacemen to go down injured during the series. He flew home after the second Test.
Standout moment: Well, his first over on day one of the series was pretty good. Not much else to write home about, unfortunately.
Batting
Matches 1, Innings 2, Not outs 1, Runs 4, Average 4.00, Highest score 4 not out
Bowling
Overs 11, Maidens 1, Runs 44, Wickets 0, Economy rate 4.00, Best bowling 0-21
30. Matthew Potts
Brought in cold and rusty at Sydney, having not played for six weeks, and, boy, did it show. His technique went to bits in what was a horror show, although he did at least pull back his economy rate after going at eight an over early on.
Standout moment: He did bat nicely in England’s second innings, held a good catch, and ran out Marnus Labuschagne. But the fact that Potts wasn’t trusted to bowl on the final day in Sydney, despite England needing to dismiss Australia quickly and already being a bowler down because Ben Stokes was injured, was really quite something.
You had to feel for him.
Batting
Matches 1, Innings 2, Not outs 2, Runs 19, Highest score 18 not out
Bowling
Overs 25, Maidens 1, Runs 141, Wickets 0, Economy 5.64, Best bowling 0-141
Matthew Potts had precious little bowling behind him before he was dropped into the team at the SCG (Philip Brown/Getty Images)
29. Ollie Pope
Started all right in Perth with 46 and 33, but things soon went awry. He talked about needing to show clarity in his innings, but, sadly, the opposite was true. By the end of Adelaide, he looked completely frazzled.
Standout moment: Got out twice to Nathan Lyon in Adelaide, leaving his overall Ashes average at 17.62 from 16 innings. Only Dennis Amiss has played as many Ashes innings since 1900 at a lower average.
Batting
Matches 3, Innings 6, Not outs 0, Runs 125, Average 20.83, Highest score 46
28. Josh Inglis
The man born in Leeds batted like he was playing for England. He managed unconvincing scores of 23, 32 and 10 in his three innings before, as the backup middle-order batter, he dropped out again when Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja were both fit to play in Melbourne.
Standout moment: His stunning run out of Ben Stokes in Brisbane, throwing on the run with one stump to aim at. It was the best run out of the series.
Batting
Matches 2, Innings 3, Not outs 0, Runs 65, Average 21.66, Highest score 32
Josh Inglis surveys his stumps after being bowled by Josh Tongue in Adelaide (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
27. Jhye Richardson
Played his first Test for four years (since the last Ashes series in Australia) after a catalogue of injury problems, but bowled just nine and a bit overs in the two-day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where he claimed a couple of wickets.
Standout moment: Took the prized scalp of Joe Root during England’s run chase with one that drilled into his pads.
Batting
Matches 1, Innings 2, Not outs 1, Runs 7, Average 7.00, Highest score 7
Bowling
Overs 9.2, Maidens 2, Runs 30, Wickets 2, Average 15.00, Economy 3.21, Best bowling 2-30
26. Ben Duckett
The lowest-ranked player to feature in at least four matches. Not horrific with the bat, but very poor, and when you add in the three dropped catches and that video, well, it’s a taxi (or an Uber) for Duckett.
His overall series strike rate of 91.40 per 100 balls was comfortably higher than any other batter. We’ll leave you to judge whether that’s a good thing. But Jacob Bethell faced more deliveries (265) compiling his 154 at Sydney than Duckett did across the entire series (221).
Standout moment: An aggressive 34 off 26 balls set exactly the right tone, for once in this series, during England’s run chase in Melbourne. Coming days after his slurry video surfaced, it was a show of character from Duckett.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 0, Runs 202, Average 20.20, Highest score 42
Ben Duckett practises the leave after nicking his second ball in the second innings in Adelaide to slip (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
25. Jamie Smith
Pretty much the epitome of broken ‘Bazball’ in Australia, especially when you compare what his opposite number behind the stumps did for Australia. Closed up his yawning gap between bat and pad from Adelaide onwards to register a couple of decent scores, and his glove work was not typified by that drop at Brisbane, but then…
Jamie Smith is out for 46 just before lunch — and Steven Finn was not impressed! pic.twitter.com/c2U4kbPcNk
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 5, 2026
Standout moment: When your dismissal is being talked about as one of the worst in England’s history, it’s time to head to the nets for a couple of years. He’ll see Labuschagne bowling long hops in his sleep. A genuine ‘where were you?’ moment.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 211, Average 23.44, Highest score 60, 50s 1
Caught 15
24. Cameron Green
Australia’s biggest disappointment of the series. Has been talked about as the future of their Test team for some time, but this was the summer that public patience ran out. Repeatedly failed with bat and ball and was shown up by fellow all-rounder Beau Webster in Sydney.
Standout moment: Standing back, bending over, and missing a straight one from Brydon Carse in Brisbane was proper village.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 8, Not outs 1, Runs 171, Average 24.42, Highest score 45
Bowling
Overs 61.5, Maidens 5, Runs 283, Wickets 4, Average 70.75, Economy 4.57, Best bowling 1-0
Cameron Green steps away to leg expecting to be bounced, and is yorked instead by Brydon Carse (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
23. Jake Weatherald
On tough pitches, it was hard going for the openers, and Weatherald found it as difficult as anyone as he gained his first taste of Test cricket, registering only two scores over 25. Dogged by technical issues, but did have a nice synergy with Head to help Australia invariably get off to a good, brisk start in those opening overs.
At risk of becoming a quiz question, but Australia may stick with him.
Standout moment: A nicely constructed 72 off 78 balls in the first innings at Brisbane showcased his talent.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 201, Average 22.33, Highest score 72, 50s 1
22. Will Jacks
Jekyll and Hyde with the bat; either gutsy, dogged and determined, as in Brisbane and Adelaide when trying to prolong or save the match, or incredibly inept with some Jamie Smith-esque rushes of blood in Melbourne and Sydney. His part-time off-spin was expensive. May not be seen again in the Test side.
Standout moment: If we’re being mean, when he dropped a dolly on the boundary in Sydney due to looking at the floor. If we’re being nice, bowling Steve Smith through the gate later in the same match.
Batting
Matches 4, Innings 7, Not outs 0, Runs 145, Average 20.71, Highest score 47
Bowling
Overs 65.4, Maidens 6, Runs 322, Wickets 6, Average 53.66, Economy 4.90, Best bowling 2-105
Probably a bit mean… (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)
21. Nathan Lyon
Barely used in Perth, filthily dropped in Brisbane, returned in Adelaide, and took some stonking, potentially match-winning wickets — considering the outcome — before tearing his hamstring. If he’d been around in Sydney, the match would not have gone to five days.
Standout moment: Two rippers to left-handers Duckett and Stokes in Adelaide that took their off stumps.
Batting
Matches 2, Innings 3, Not outs 0, Runs 13, Average 4.33, Highest score 9
Bowling
Overs 55, Maidens 11, Runs 157, Wickets 5, Average 31.40, Economy 2.85, Best bowling 3-77
20. Brendan Doggett
The debutant played in two Ashes Tests and emerged with a 100 per cent win record. Covered for injuries and demonstrated the strength in depth of the Australian bowling ranks.
Standout moment: Picked up his first Test wicket in surreal circumstances, not even appealing when Brook feathered a short ball behind on day one in Perth. Brook walked and a crucial partnership was broken.
Batting
Matches 2, Innings 2, Not outs 1, Runs 20, Average 20.00, Highest score 13
Bowling
Overs 48.2, Maidens 4, Runs 215, Wickets 7, Average 30.71, Economy 4.44, Best bowling 3-51
Brendan Doggett appeals for a catch behind against Harry Brook (Philip Brown/Getty Images)
19. Gus Atkinson
Probably one of Stokes’ ‘weak men‘, given he was dropped after those comments after bowling (and batting) his way out of the team in Brisbane, but he returned to his best form in Melbourne before his hamstring pinged.
Standout moment: Took a probing 2-28 in Melbourne, including the wicket of Travis Head.
Batting
Matches 3, Innings 5, Not outs 0, Runs 73, Average 14.60, Highest score 37
Bowling
Overs 73, Maidens 17, Runs 284, Wickets 6, Average 47.33, Economy 3.89, Best bowling 2-28
18. Usman Khawaja
His struggles against England’s indifferent bowling attack confirmed that, at 39, this was the right time to bow out. An excellent 82 in Adelaide just hours after being left out of the side — Steve Smith’s late withdrawal through illness gave him a reprieve — was classic Khawaja.
Standout moment: His final farewell, appropriately in Sydney, where it all began, kissing the pitch amid a standing ovation.
Batting
Matches 4, Innings 7, Not outs 0, Runs 176, Average 25.14, Highest score 82 50s 1
Usman Khawaja bows down and kisses the turf as he walks off the ground after his final Test innings (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)
17. Zak Crawley
Played a couple of dominant knocks, as well as getting out cheaply several times, and averaged around 30. First time for everything.
Standout moment: His 85 off 151 in a lost cause in Adelaide showed a rarely seen prudent approach, but he ended the series as he began it: being dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the first over of the innings. Albeit this time playing defensively.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 0, Runs 273, Average 27.30, Highest score 85, 50s 2
Perfect start for Australia as Mitchell Starc removes Zak Crawley in the opening over! pic.twitter.com/jpiCBOBJnD
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 7, 2026
16. Marnus Labuschagne
Recalled after being dropped for the West Indies series last year and did not respond as he would have liked, with a top score of 65 in Brisbane. Ten catches (some of them spectacular), a bit of bowling, and a lot of talking.
Standout moment: Should probably be the two worldie catches he took in Adelaide, but let’s be honest, it’ll be the half-tracker that did for Jamie Smith in Sydney that will be replayed for years to come.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 259, Average 28.77, Highest score 65, 50s 2
Bowling
Overs 8, Maidens 0, Runs 39, Wickets 1, Average 39.00, Economy 4.87, Best bowling 1-14
Marnus Labuschagne talks Alex Carey through his stunning catch to dismiss Will Jacks in Adelaide (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
15. Beau Webster
There had been calls all summer for him to replace Green as the team’s all-rounder, and he showed exactly why in Sydney. Scored 71 not out in his solitary innings, a higher score than all bar six of his team-mates managed all series, then took 3-64 with his off breaks. A very solid operator.
Standout moment: Two wickets in three balls in England’s second innings in Sydney, trapping Brook leg before wicket before Jacks served him his wicket on a plate.
Batting
Matches 1, Innings 1, Not outs 1, Runs 71, Highest score 71 not out, 50s 1
Bowling
Overs 21, Maidens 1, Runs 84, Wickets 3, Average 28.00, Economy 4.00, Best bowling 3-64
Will Jacks’ stint at the crease is short-lived as Webster takes two wickets in three balls! pic.twitter.com/6ecdUmg8Nf
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 7, 2026
14. Harry Brook
The numbers tell you Brook was the third-highest run scorer in the series. The numbers also tell you Brook passed 30 on seven occasions, but only converted two of those scores into half-centuries. You’d expect a lot more from the No 2 batter on the ICC Test rankings. Some really poor dismissals, but hopefully some lessons learned.
Standout moment: Given how England changed their approach thereafter in Adelaide, you might call Brook edging to slip when trying to drive Mitchell Starc for six on the up in Brisbane the death of ‘Bazball’.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 358, Average 39.77, Highest score 84, 50s 2
Harry Brook must learn lessons from his first tour Down Under (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
13. Ben Stokes
Did the Hercules thing, but needs others to step up.
As he freely admitted after the series, he had not hit his expected levels as a player or a captain, and he won’t have meant with the ball, where he took 15 wickets and was often the man to keep things tight, as well as the most threatening. With the bat, Starc again had his number — five dismissals in 10 innings — although he produced a couple of typically defiant knocks.
As captain, some of his bowling choices were odd, while his fields lacked the invention we’ve seen in the past. That said, he did handle the off-field Duckett situation superbly.
Standout moment: His 5-23 on the opening day of the series in Perth, his fourth-best Test bowling figures.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 0, Runs 184, Average 18.40, Highest score 83, 50s 2
Bowling
Overs 101.1, Maidens 12, Runs 377, Wickets 15, Average 25.13, Economy 3.72, Best bowling 5-23, 5 wickets 1
Ben Stokes endured a difficult series as captain ( Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
12. Pat Cummins
It doesn’t get much more bullish than turning up for one Ashes match after back trouble, captaining your team to a series-clinching victory, taking six wickets, and then swanning off for the rest of the summer.
Standout moment: Had Root caught behind twice in Adelaide via his come-and-get-me fifth stump line.
Batting
Matches 1, Innings 2, Not outs 0, Runs 19, Average 9.50, Highest score 13
Bowling
Overs 34, Maidens 7, Runs 117, Wickets 6, Average 19.50, Economy 3.44, Best bowling 3-48
Pat Cummins played one match and walked away with the urn (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
11. Jofra Archer
Started off a little indifferently and was slammed by the whole of Australia for, well, bowling fast in Brisbane, but Archer emerged as the undisputed leader of England’s new-look attack in Adelaide with an excellent performance and match figures of 6-73. He was England’s best bowler before a side strain ended things early. The best economy rate of any front-line bowler in the series.
Standout moment: A first Test half-century in Adelaide was long overdue as Archer showed his team-mates how to bat in Australian conditions.
Batting
Matches 3, Innings 6, Not outs 2, Runs 102, Average 25.50, Highest score 51, 50s 1
Bowling
Overs 80, Maidens 14, Runs 244, Wickets 9, Average 27.11, Economy 3.05, Best bowling 5-53, 5 wickets 1
Jofra Archer reaches 50 for the first time in Test cricket 🏏 pic.twitter.com/N6JE8z3Szz
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 19, 2025
10. Steve Smith
Captain for four Tests, and could seldom be faulted. With the bat, he was not quite his usual self, before a magical knock in Sydney put a lot of gloss on his series. Caught brilliantly, with 14 from 14.
Standout moment: At his eccentric best when scoring 138 in the first innings at the SCG, one of his favourite places to bat.
Batting
Matches 4, Innings 8, Not outs 3, Runs 286, Average 57.20, Highest score 138, 100s 1, 50s 1
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
9. Brydon Carse
Like that guy on a stag do that everyone finds a bit annoying but will also liven up the night, Carse was a necessary evil at times and a bowler of extremes. England’s leading wicket taker with 22, the most wickets an England bowler has taken in Australia since James Anderson’s 24 in 2010-11, but his economy rate was an eye-watering 4.81.
He was often infuriating at the start of innings when he relieved any pressure with short, wide deliveries. Stokes clearly loves him, although not as much as Travis Head, who cut and pulled Carse for fun. Not a tone-setter, or a new-ball specialist, but effective at taking wickets.
Standout moment: Everything clicked when he took 4-34 in Melbourne to help ensure England’s run chase was manageable.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 99, Average 11.00, Highest score 39 not out
Bowling
Overs 138.4, Maidens 13, Runs 667, Wickets 22, Average 30.31, Economy 4.81, Best bowling 4-34
Brydon Carse exchanges words with Jake Weatherald on day five in Sydney (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
8. Joe Root
Another who will have mixed feelings. He was under huge pressure to deliver an Ashes century, which he did not once but twice, and finally ticked an Ashes victory in Australia off his bucket list. However, seven scores under 20 meant it was, for the most part, a frustrating tour for England’s best batter.
Standout moment: When the century finally came in Brisbane, he celebrated with an almost apologetic shrug. What a guy.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 1, Runs 400, Average 44.44, Highest score 160, 100s 2
Bowling
Overs 12, Maidens 1, Runs 50, Wickets 0, Economy 4.16
7. Jacob Bethell
A crucial 40 during England’s run chase on his Ashes debut in front of 90,000 at the MCG showed his mettle, then a glorious 154 in Sydney proved why everyone is so excited about this 22-year-old. Did newfangled things like putting a price on his wicket and playing balls on their merits, then sent over some decent left-arm spin and trapped Travis Head leg before wicket to boot. A star is born.
Standout moment: Got through the nervous 90s to seal an unforgettable maiden first-class century in Sydney in front of his weeping parents. A life highlight.
Batting
Matches 2, Innings 4, Not outs 0, Runs 205, Average 51.25, Highest score 154, 100s 1
Bowling
Overs 18.2, Maidens 1, Runs 68, Wickets 1, Average 68.00, Economy 3.70, Best bowling 1-52
Jacob Bethell drives through the covers at the SCG (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
6. Michael Neser
Where do they get these guys from? Wasn’t even in the squad in Perth, aged 35, only ever played two Tests, saunters into the side due to injuries after a three-year absence, and ends up averaging under 20 with the ball in an Ashes series. Neser was everything England craved from their attack: disciplined, economical, and effective with the new ball.
He can go back to the factory now. His work is done.
Standout moment: His 5-42 in Brisbane helped set up Australia for victory and included two excellent catches off his own bowling, offered up by Crawley and Pope.
Batting
Matches 3, Innings 4, Not outs 0, Runs 75, Average 18.75, Highest score 35
Bowling
Overs 82.5, Maidens 9, Runs 299, Wickets 15, Average 19.93, Economy 3.60, Best bowking 5-42, 5 wickets 1
The outstanding Michael Neser (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
5. Josh Tongue
England’s strategy of holding Tongue back to catch the Australian batters off their guard worked brilliantly, as he steamrolled his way into the series with 18 wickets at 20.11 from the third Test onwards. Introduced a zany concept of pitching the ball in the batter’s half of the wicket.
Standout moment: Bowled Steve Smith at the MCG on Boxing Day (Tongue ended the series having dismissed Smith six times in the seven innings they have faced off in all formats) on his way to winning man of the match in England’s first Test victory in Australia for almost 15 years. Nice.
Batting
Matches 3, Innings 5, Not outs 2, Runs 15, Average 5.00, Highest score 7 not out
Bowling
Overs 97.2, Maidens 5, Runs 362, Wickets 18, Average 20.11, Economy 3.71, Best bowling 5-45, 5 wickets 1
Josh Tongue was England’s bowling find of the tour (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
4. Scott Boland
A metronome in human form and incredibly methodical and disciplined… basically the kind of guy who lays out his underwear for the week on a Monday morning. Almost unnervingly consistent with his relentless top-of-off line and length, Boland is the unsung hero of Australia’s Ashes victory.
Standout moment: As a bowler, 24 dot balls in a row to Root before jagging one into his pads in Sydney. As a batter and a proud Victorian, that boundary off the last ball of the day on Boxing Day, having opened the batting as a nightwatchman, was a goosebump-inducing moment.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 7, Not outs 2, Runs 42, Average 8.40, Highest score 21 not out
Bowling
Overs 158.5, Maidens 26, Runs 499, Wickets 20, Average 24.95, Economy 3.14, Best bowling 4-33
Joe Root departs for six as Boland takes the wicket! pic.twitter.com/JQMp8Sru5j
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 7, 2026
3. Alex Carey
Probably the best wicketkeeper in the world, with his ability being so great that it allowed Australia to force a different tactic on England — by coming up to the stumps for Boland and Neser, he stopped any ‘Bazball’ charges down the wicket.
Registered the joint second most dismissals in any Test series ever, 28, one behind Brad Haddin’s world record. Had he ended the series well with the bat, he could have pushed for No 1. Impeccable.
Standout moment: It has to be his 106 on home turf in Adelaide, with his family in the stands. A beautiful thing.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 8, Not outs 1, Runs 323, Average 46.14, Highest score 106, 100s 1, 50s 2
Caught 27 Stumped 1
Alex Carey raises his bat after reaching his century on his home ground of Adelaide Oval (Philip Brown/Getty Images)
2. Travis Head
If Lyon had opened the batting in Perth after Khawaja hurt his back (which Australia genuinely considered), the entire series may have taken on a different complexion in what is one of the great sliding doors moments in Ashes history. Head went on to score three centuries and accumulate 629 runs, the ninth most for an Australian in an Ashes series.
Only Steve Smith and Sir Donald Bradman have scored more in a home Ashes series. He top-scored in four of the Tests, a feat no one has managed since Bradman in 1930. And he has a hell of a moustache and is a bloody nice bloke to boot. Showed England it was possible to attack without being reckless.
Standout moment: Head’s 123 off 83 balls in Perth will go down as one of the best innings ever scored in a Test run chase.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 10, Not outs 0, Runs 629, Average 62.90, Highest score 170, 100s 3
Bowling
Overs 24, Maidens 3, Runs 107, Wickets 0, Economy 4.45
England never found a way of nullifying Travis Head at the top of the Australian order (Philip Brown/Getty Images)
1. Mitchell Starc
Australia would probably still have won the Ashes without Head’s runs, but they may have struggled to claim the urn without Starc’s wickets, such was his impact with the ball.
While Boland and Neser were wonderfully economical, it took Starc to lead the attack in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Cummins and break through England’s admittedly weak defences, which he did when he blew open the series in Perth and Brisbane. Four times in the series, he dismissed an England opener in the first over of an innings.
Mitchell Starc and Travis Head were the scourge of England (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
He was unplayable in those opening two matches and would take wickets in every innings, adding two important half-centuries in Brisbane and Adelaide with the bat. He also got through all five Tests aged 35, something most of England’s bowlers couldn’t manage.
Standout moment: There were plenty, but probably the way he set the tone in Perth by dismissing Crawley for nought with the sixth ball of the series.
Batting
Matches 5, Innings 7, Not outs 1, Runs 156, Average 26.00, Highest score 77, 50s 2
Bowling
Overs 152.2, Maidens 15, Runs 614, Wickets 31, Average 19.93, Economy 4.03, Best bowling 7-58, 5 wickets 2