After such a brilliant first test match and with the second test match only three days away, it is time to run the ruler over the performances of each player from both teams.
Australia
Shane Watson: 7 out of 10
Dismissed sparring at a leavable ball outside the off stump in the first innings and LBW in his usual style in the second after getting off to a good start. Was a miser with the ball but did not bowl enough to slot into the allrounders roll Australia needs.
Chris Rogers: 7 out of 10
Did the job he was asked to do and showed glimpses in both innings of why he has been tapped on the shoulder for this series.
Ed Cowan: 2 out of 10
Two bad shots and his career is in jeopardy. To be honest they were shots that were indicative of a clouded mind. Will play at Lords but will be on his last chance.
Michael Clarke: 5 out of 10
Got a jaffa from Anderson in the first innings and then wafted at one outside off stump in the second. Never looked set and Australia needs his production to succeed here. Appalling on reviews to DRS.
Steve Smith: 7 out of 10
A solid knock in the first innings was followed by a good ball from Swann in the second innings. Needed to make more his opportunity in the first innings and went hard at a ball that he should have left.
Phil Hughes: 7.5 out of 10
Kept it together in the first innings and had pundits calling him Steve Waugh reincarnate. Maybe number 6 is his position but he looked all at see against Graeme Swann in the second innings and was found out.
Brad Haddin: 7.5 out of 10
A fantastic knock in the second innings probably will do much to mask some frailties with his glove work that have been much made of until his last day stand. Is the old head Australia needs in the middle order but must assert himself more on the field in DRS scenarios.
Peter Siddle: 7 out of 10
8 wickets in the test match was a solid return to form for Siddle. Lionhearted in the second innings and, despite his limitations, continued to lead the attack wholeheartedly when others were starting to wilt.
Mitchell Starc: 6 out of 10
Wayward when we needed him to be on line but is a top order wicket taker and did so in the first innings albeit with a bit of luck. Will need to work on his control for the second test.
James Pattinson: 6.5 out of 10
Read the comments on Starc. Same rules apply to Pattinson. Last wicket heroics with Haddin get him the extra half a point.
Ashton Agar: 8 out of 10
The statement that this was the best Ashes debut ever is hyperbole: Bob Massie wins that battle by the length of the straight. Still though this was an excellent start for the young man.
England
Alistair Cook: 7 out of 10
Solid with the bat without being outstanding and marshalled his troops well when things were going pear shaped on day 5. Was excellent on his use of DRS.
Joe Root: 4 out of 10
Looked a little out his depth at the top of the order albeit scratched out 30 in the first innings. Looks a long term prospect for England if they don’t bugger him up.
Jonathan Trott: 5 out of 10
Looked like he was serenely going on his way to another hundred in the first innings until he played a shocking shot off Siddle (he was not the only one) and got a bad decision in the second innings for a golden duck. Will play a major part in this series at some point.
Kevin Pietersen: 7 out of 10
Is there a better player of the straight drive in the game of cricket? Love him or hate him Pietersen’s second innings 64 was an important precursor to the Bell / Broad partnership that changed the game.
Ian Bell: 9 out of 10
A career defining hundred in the second innings. It was a brilliant innings without which England would not have won the game.
Jonny Bairstow: 6.5 out of 10
Is another player of the future and will be better for this test match. His first innings 37 was vital batting with the tail to get England over 200.
Matt Prior: 5 out of 10
Out to two woeful shots but showed wonderful intent in the second innings when he went hard at the second new ball and got England on top. His glove work was exemplary and his work advising Cook on DRS decisions just as good!
Stuart Broad: 7.5 out of 10
Forget the sore shoulder and the controversy of not walking: this was a solid all round performance from a much maligned player. A quick fire 24 in the first innings when things were going haywire and a staunch 64 in concert with Bell in the second inning in the match winning partnership from number 8 where match winners. 2 key wickets in each innings show his value in this England team.
Graeme Swann: 7 out of 10
A dear in the headlights with the willow but tied up one end for the English while Jimmy Anderson worked his magic. Big wickets at the end of day 4 turned the match the way of the Poms.
Steve Finn: 3 out of 10
Over 5 runs an over in the first innings and then targeted by Brad Haddin the second. Was just too inconsistent with length and line and was the obvious weak link in the English attack. Will struggle to keep his position for the next test.
Jimmy Anderson: 10 out of 10
Just a brilliant performance from one of the best bowlers in the world. He was a class above any other bowler in this game. His 13 over spell to start day 5 was the match winner. A worthy man of the match.