Ashes 2015: Updated Power Rankings for England vs. Australia After 2nd Test
Australia squared up the Ashes series in impressive fashion at Lord's, winning the second Test by the small matter of 405 runs with a day to spare.
The euphoria surrounding England's triumph in the opening match in Cardiff, Wales, quickly disappeared as they were crushed at the home of cricket.
The tourists were in control from the moment they won the toss on Day 1, making 566 for eight before declaring their first innings.
England could only make 312 in reply, although Australia opted not to enforce the follow-on. Instead, they piled on the misery by batting again, eventually setting their rivals 509 for victory.
The hosts, however, barely made it into three figures. They lasted all of 37 overs on Sunday, leaving the series at 1-1 as the teams head to Edgbaston, Birmingham, for the next Test.
Before then, however, here are our updated Ashes power rankings after Lord's.
Understandably, there are plenty of changes in the list, most notably a new man at the top spot.
24. Shane Watson (Australia)
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Previous position: 22
After a disappointing display in the first Test, Australia's selectors decided to drop Shane Watson for Lord's.
The all-rounder made 30 and 19 with the bat in the series opener. He was adjudged leg before wicket twice in the match, despite using up reviews to try and get the original decisions overturned.
Mitchell Marsh took his place in the XI, meaning poor Watson was left to carry the drinks.
Still, the 34-year-old wasn't out of the media spotlight completely. He was caught on camera during Day 3 flexing his muscles in the changing room, per Alicia Vrajlal of Daily Mail Australia.
23. Brad Haddin (Australia)
2 of 24
Previous position: 21
Brad Haddin did not play in the second Test due to family reasons, as Cricket Australia announced on their website two days before the game.
The experienced wicketkeeper declared himself unavailable, handing Peter Nevill the chance to make his Test debut at Lord's.
Haddin had found himself under pressure after the first Test. He dropped Joe Root when he had yet to score, with the Yorkshireman going on to make 134 in England's first innings.
The 37-year-old has also been out of form with the bat—he has only made one half-century in Test action since starring in the last Ashes series.
22. Adam Lyth (England)
3 of 24
Previous position: 20
Lord's is a great cricketing venue, but it has not been kind to Adam Lyth in the early stages of his England career.
The opener made seven runs in two innings against Australia, having only managed 19 runs on debut at the same ground against New Zealand at the start of the summer.
Lyth was caught playing off the back foot in both knocks in the second Test, meaning he's now managed 50 runs in the series.
The Yorkshire left-hander finds himself bottom of our rankings and in danger of losing his place at the top of England's order. The only way is up, Adam, provided you are retained for Edgbaston, of course.
21. Gary Ballance (England)
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Previous position: 16
Like Yorkshire team-mate Lyth, Gary Ballance finds his place in the England team being questioned after two low scores at Lord's.
The left-hander made 23 and 14 in the match, though he was bowled for the fourth time already in the summer to end his first innings.
His technique, which sees him take a sizeable step back into the crease prior to the bowler delivering the ball, is now coming into question, despite his Test average still sitting at 47.76.
Bob Willis certainly has his concerns, telling Sky Sports: "I don’t think you can play Test cricket batting within the popping crease all the time and, if he is not getting bowled out, he is wanting to feel bat on ball."
20. Jos Buttler (England)
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Previous position: 20
Jos Buttler slips back in the rankings, though the wicketkeeper does come out of the Lord's match in credit.
While he made only 24 runs in the match, he was the talk of the Test when opting to walk in England's first innings.
The right-hander had got a thin edge on a delivery from off-spinner Nathan Lyon and, although umpire Kumar Dharmasena initially turned down Australia's appeal, he quickly started nodding his head in the affirmative when he realised Buttler was heading off.
While his work behind the stumps has been tidy enough, Buttler has yet to make an impact on the series with the bat. It seems, from watching him, he doesn't know whether to stick or twist.
19. Mark Wood (England)
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Previous position: 17
A docile pitch in the second Test did not suit Mark Wood.
He ended up with match figures of one for 131, his only success coming when he dismissed Australia captain Michael Clarke on Day 2.
Worryingly, Wood was down on pace at Lord's. Back-to-back Tests are tough work for any bowler, but particularly one who has only played 28 first-class games in his career.
In his column for the Mail, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum wrote: "Mark Wood looks like the kind of bowler who needs a break from time to time. I'd bring in Steven Finn at Edgbaston and then Wood can return refreshed later in the series."
18. Adam Voges (Australia)
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Previous position: 19
Adam Voges moves up one spot, even though he only made 25 in Australia's massive first-innings total.
The veteran batsman was unable to field for much of England's opening innings, having taken a blow while under the helmet for off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
He did make it out for what turned out to be the final day of the Test, dropping a tough catch at first slip before going on to hold a much more straightforward opportunity at cover.
Voges, though, would rather be helping his team's cause with runs. He had the perfect opportunity at Lord's but failed to cash in.
17. Ian Bell (England)
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Previous position: 9
The big question with Ian Bell: Is he just desperately out of form, or is his time in the England team coming to an end?
Bowled by Josh Hazlewood in his team's first innings, the right-hander then perished tamely as the hosts collapsed in pursuit of a huge target.
He went nowhere in defence against Nathan Lyon, resulting in him getting an inside edge onto his pad that ended up in the hands of short leg.
Bell has never made a Test century at Edgbaston, his home ground. The next Test would be the perfect time for him to make a big score in his own back yard. If he doesn't, it could be the end of the line.
16. Moeen Ali (England)
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Previous position: 10
Moeen Ali nearly missed the second Test due to a side strain, per George Dobell of ESPN Cricinfo.
He may well now wish he'd sat it out, having toiled for 52 overs with the ball to record match figures of three for 216.
The off-spinner was rather gifted his first wicket, David Warner having an ill-judged swipe at him just prior to lunch on Day 1. It turned out to be England's only breakthrough on Thursday.
As for Moeen's batting, he made 38 first time around before being undone by a seriously sharp Mitchell Johnson short ball on Sunday afternoon.
15. James Anderson (England)
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Previous position: 7
James Anderson finds himself going in the wrong direction in the rankings. Unless he gets a pitch offering a little more assistance, it could yet get worse for the seamer.
England's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket has so far managed a grand total of three in the series. His average currently sits at 71.
Lord's has been a happy hunting ground for him in the past—he has claimed four five-wicket hauls at the venue—yet he toiled away with no success against Australia.
If the hosts want to regain the Ashes, they may want to worry less about the bowlers in the opposition XI and consider helping out their own instead.
14. Peter Nevill (Australia)
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Previous position: New entry
Peter Nevill had an eventful debut—he scored 45 runs in his one innings, plus held on to seven catches behind the stumps in Australia's landslide win.
The Victorian was handed the opportunity to wear the Baggy Green for the first time after Brad Haddin pulled out of the match for personal reasons, per the Guardian.
Now Nevill will have to wait to see if he will retain his place behind the stumps for the next match, in Birmingham.
Per Daniel Brettig of ESPN Cricinfo, Haddin is expected to play in Australia's tour match against Derbyshire, potentially leaving the selectors with a tough choice to make over who starts at Edgbaston.
13. David Warner (Australia)
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Previous position: 13
David Warner is a non-mover in the charts, which seems appropriate considering the amount of time he had to sit and watch team-mates Chris Rogers and Steve Smith pile on the runs.
The Australia opener had the chance to make a big score himself, only to give up the opportunity with a badly judged shot just prior to lunch on Day 1.
Having survived the new ball, Warner threw it all away on 38 when he couldn't resist trying to smack Moeen Ali out of St John's Wood. Instead, all he did was find James Anderson in the deep.
Warner did make 83 second time around, unselfishly perishing trying to get quick runs instead of focusing on reaching three figures.
12. Ben Stokes (England)
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Previous position: 14
Ben Stokes moves up the rankings, though he could easily have found himself bottom of the pile after the method of his dismissal in England's second innings.
The Durham all-rounder became more concerned about being hit by Mitchell Johnson's throw than getting in his ground, resulting in him being run out because he had both feet up in the air as he crossed the crease.
Still, the schoolboy piece of running between the wickets should not totally overshadow Stokes' other knock in the match.
He made 87, sharing in a fifth-wicket stand of 145 with his captain, Alastair Cook, before chopping on. That was unfortunate, but luck had nothing to do with the way he fell on Day 4.
11. Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
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Previous position: New entry
Mitchell Marsh justified his selection ahead of Shane Watson with three big wickets.
The all-rounder saw off Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook in England's first innings, with both left-handed batsmen chopping deliveries back onto their stumps.
He also dismissed Gary Ballance in the match, meaning he has taken more wickets than Watson has managed in nine Tests that span over six years.
Marsh did make a few runs in the second innings, including clobbering two huge sixes down the ground. Australia's selectors should pat themselves on the back for picking the 23-year-old.
10. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
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Previous position: 11
Nathan Lyon brings a wonderful balance to Australia's attack.
After opposing sides have had to deal with the pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, the introduction of Lyon into the attack means there is no breathing space.
The off-spinner picked up three wickets at Lord's, with his dismissal of Ian Bell on Sunday coming when he was bowled from around the wicket.
It would be interesting to know what Lyon made of the pitch, seeing as he previously worked on the staff at the Adelaide Oval before his career took off.
9. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
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Previous position: 12
Josh Hazlewood has quickly adapted to English conditions—his 10 wickets after two Tests makes him the most successful bowler from either side so far.
He claimed five in the match at Lord's, the pick of them being his delivery that cleaned up Joe Root in England's abysmal second innings.
The seamer also knocked over James Anderson to clinch victory with a day to spare.
Sir Ian Botham has certainly been impressed by the New South Welshman, telling Sky Sports: "I keep on thinking of Glenn McGrath when I watch him bowl with his height and the way he hits the deck."
8. Stuart Broad (England)
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Previous position: 4
Although he has gone down in the rankings, Stuart Broad was still impressive for England in a losing cause.
The seamer was the one home bowler who looked a threat on a flat pitch, as proved by him finishing Australia's mammoth first innings with figures of four for 83.
He now has nine wickets in the series at an average of 24.88.
Had it not been for a few lusty blows from Broad's bat on the fourth and final evening, England may well have been bowled out for under 100.
7. Alastair Cook (England)
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Previous position: 3
Alastair Cook was within one shot of recording his first Ashes hundred on home soil.
It seemed a wide, full delivery from Mitchell Marsh would provide him with the opportunity to reach three figures with a cover drive, only for the left-hander to instead inside-edge the ball back onto his stumps.
The England captain dropped to one knee after being dismissed for 96, and from then on his side seemed doomed to defeat.
The left-hander has looked in excellent form this summer, but he cannot hold the top order together all by himself.
6. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
19 of 24
Previous position: 2
It was a relatively quiet match for Mitchell Starc at Lord's.
The left-arm paceman claimed a wicket in each innings—and on both occasions it was England opener Adam Lyth who was his victim.
Starc did well to play any part in the match. He had needed painkilling injections just to get through the first Test, though he showed no signs of discomfort in the second match of the series.
His economy rate—3.99—is the highest of Australia's five-man bowling attack. However, he has already picked up nine wickets.
5. Michael Clarke (Australia)
20 of 24
Previous position: 5
Michael Clarke got just the reaction he wanted from his side following their dismal display in the series opener in Cardiff, Wales.
His biggest influence on proceedings at Lord's occurred at 10.30 a.m. on Day 1, when he won the toss and instantly told opposite number Alastair Cook that Australia would be batting first.
Clarke only contributed only seven runs to his side's huge first-innings total.
On Day 4 he made an unbeaten 32 before declaring for a second time in the contest. His captaincy was, as ever, proactive, even if he did oddly place a boundary rider early on when England needed 509 to win.
4. Chris Rogers (Australia)
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Previous position: 15
Chris Rogers looked right at home at Lord's, a venue where he should feel comfortable considering his stints as Middlesex's overseas player.
The Australia opener followed up his knock of 95 in the first innings in the Welsh capital with 173 out of his side's total of 566 for eight in the second Test.
It could have been different had he been caught in the slips in the opening over, but England were left to rue the miss. Rogers hit 28 fours in his 300-ball knock.
He also made 49 not out second time around, though the left-hander was forced to retire after suffering a dizzy spell while out in the middle. Per BBC Sport, a delayed ear problem was the cause of the issue, after he was struck on the side of the head on Day 2.
3. Joe Root (England)
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Previous position: 1
England's star turn in the first Test couldn't repeat his heroics at Lord's.
Joe Root is becoming experienced at coming in with his side three down in a hurry, and the time might be coming for him to be moved up the order.
He couldn't stem the tide in either innings in the second Test, caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson first time around before being bowled by Josh Hazlewood on the Sunday.
The Yorkshireman took two wickets with the ball but managed only 18 runs in the match. For that reason, he slips down to third place.
2. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
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Previous position: 8
Mitchell Johnson looked like the real Mitchell Johnson at Lord's—aggressive, fast and a constant menace.
The left-arm paceman had been becalmed in the first Test, but while the pitch in the second match of the series was hardly suited to his bowling either, he was the spearhead of Australia's impressive attack.
He picked up three wickets in each innings, in the process bringing back memories of the way he dismantled England in the 2013/14 series in Australia.
The dismissal of Moeen Ali on Day 4 was particularly chilling—a vicious short ball caught the left-hander in a real tangle, resulting in him popping a catch up to short leg.
1. Steven Smith (Australia)
24 of 24
Previous position: 6
Steve Smith should be doubly delighted after his efforts at Lord's.
A career-best 215 means he has risen to the top of our power rankings. Oh, and he's also back at No. 1 in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen again, too. I think we know which one probably means more.
The right-hander won the battle of wills with England, who hung the ball outside his off stump in the hope of getting a catch behind the wicket.
Instead, Smith showed great patience and technique to pile on the runs. He joins Bill Brown and Donald Bradman on a short list of Australians who have made double centuries at the home of cricket.
Do you agree with the new man in first position? If not, have your say in the comments section.
All stats used in the slideshow are from ESPN Cricinfo
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