Australia Ashes player ratings: Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon excel but David Warner endures difficult Test

Steve Smith scored a combined 286 runs for Australia at Edgbaston
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Will Macpherson5 August 2019

Australia lead the 2019 Ashes series 1-0 after a comprehensive comeback win at Edgbaston.

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins were in terrific form on day five of an absorbing contest, taking six and four wickets respectively as England - realistically looking to bat for a draw at best - were bowled out for just 146 runs to lose the first Test by 251.

Trailing by 90 after the first innings, Steve Smith was once again in imperious form as he combined with Matthew Wade to set the hosts a formidable target of 398 for victory.

Below, Standard Sport assesses how every Australia player fared at Edgbaston...

Cameron Bancroft 3

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All at sea with the bat, but very handy at short leg and in the cordon.

David Warner 3

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Fell twice to Stuart Broad, and has never registered fewer runs in an Ashes Test.

Usman Khawaja 5

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Would perhaps be the only Australian batsman glad if England drop Moeen, but the seamers did for him here.

Steve Smith 10

Smith followed up his first innings score of 144 with a 142.
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Two quite simply sensational centuries.

What a player, what a sense of occasion. Very special.

Travis Head 7

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Solid in both innings - a very encouraging Ashes debut.

Matthew Wade 8

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Bounced back well in the second innings to record his third Test century.

Could really hurt England from No6 if the top order fires.

Tim Paine 4

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Utterly brainless shot in the first-innings collapse, kept slightly untidily, and got significant captaincy help from Smith.

A winning skipper, so will not mind.

James Pattinson 7

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The pick of the quicks in the first innings.

Likely to be rotated during the series, but a real threat.

Pat Cummins 8

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Grew into the game, and was a terror in the fourth innings.

What a bowler.

Peter Siddle 7

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Did not let England rest with the ball, and produced a gem of an innings to support Smith with the bat.

Will be hard to drop.

Nathan Lyon 9

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A menace. Nine wickets in the match, including six on the final day when it really mattered.

Will be mighty tough as the summer wears on.

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