The Ashes 2021/22 ended with Australia, who had already retained the urn, winning the final Test to finish the series with a 4-0 scoreline. Let’s take a look at the players who made it to our combined XI for the series.

David Warner

273 runs @ 34.12, HS 95

David Warner walked into the Ashes after an excellent T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE. He began in similar touch at the Gabba and in Adelaide, making two sublime 90-plus knocks in match-winning efforts. His returns were wayward after that, but he was the best opener on display.

Usman Khawaja

255 runs @ 85, HS 137

Though his best performance came in the middle-order – his two hundreds at Sydney ensuring that he should once again be a regular in this side – he makes this side primarily due to the lack of alternatives. Marcus Harris disappointed with 179 runs across his four appearance, while Zak Crawley had only one knock of note.

Marnus Labuschagne

335 runs @ 41.87, HS 103

Labuschagne helped himself to a strong 74 in the Gabba Test, before scoring a hundred and a fifty at Adelaide which helped him win the Player of the Match award. These performances helped him reach the number one position in ICC Test batting rankings as well.

Jonny Bairstow

194 runs @ 48.5, HS 113

The only England player in our combined XI, Jonny Bairstow didn’t make the England team at the start of the series but was drafted into the side after two ignominious losses. He was exemplary in the SCG Test, where he scored a hundred and also batted through pain in the second innings to play a part in England saving the game.

Travis Head

357 runs @ 59.5, HS 152

While there was a race between Khawaja and Head for the middle-order spot going into the series, the latter won the selection battle before the Gabba Test, and scored a majestic 152 at Brisbane to prove he was worthy of a place in the Australia line-up. He was the Player of the Series in the Ashes, and also won the Player of the Match award in two separate Tests.

Though he missed a game due after contracting COVID, he returned to give yet another fine performance at Hobart.

Cameron Green

228 runs @ 32.57, 13 wickets @ 15.76

The young Australian impressed and trumps Ben Stokes for the all-rounder’s spot. The England star averaged merely 23.6 with the bat, and over 70 with the ball, while Green managed to get over a tough start with the bat to score two 70-plus scores, while remaining a threatening fifth-bowler for Australia.

Alex Carey

183 runs @ 20.33, HS 51, Catches 23

Alex Carey might not have proved himself fully with the bat, but he was still the best keeper-batter on show.

Mitchell Starc

155 runs @ 38.75, 19 wickets @ 25.36, BBI 4-37

A brilliant all-round series for Starc who silenced his doubters and then some.

Pat Cummins

21 wickets @ 18.04, BBI 5-38

The only thing that went off for the Australia captain was him missing the second Test due to a COVID scare. Otherwise, Cummins was on the top of his game throughout, leading the wicket-taking charts for the third series in succession.

Scott Boland

18 wickets @ 9.55, BBI 6-7

Australia lost their first-choice and then back-up pacers to injuries, but Scott Boland made up for all of it with a dream debut. He ensured that his Test bowling average remained under 10 in the Hobart Test, and troubled the already fragile England line-up time and again.

Nathan Lyon

16 wickets @ 23.56, BBI 4-91

Last but not the least, Lyon was Australia’s go-to spinner yet again. What impressed further was his batting, he was the joint-highest six-hitter in the series along with Stokes and Head.

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