Australia retained the Ashes in emphatic style, sealing a 4-1 series-victory in Sydney. Here's Wisden's combined team of the series.
Travis Head
5 matches, 659 runs at 62.90, 3 hundreds, HS: 170
A phenomenal series for Head, which put him in the top 10 of Australia players to score the most runs in a single Ashes series. After a twist of fate which saw him promoted to open in Perth, he went on to pulverise England's new-ball bowlers across the series with three big hundreds. That elusive double-century, however, still awaits.
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Zak Crawley
5 matches, 273 runs at 27.30, 0 hundreds, 2 fifties, HS: 85
It's indicative of the struggles openers ensured throughout the series that Crawley, averaging less than 30, is part of this side. Following his pair in Perth, he came back with two decent innings in the second and third Tests before fizzling out towards the end of the series. More serious discussions should now be raised about Crawley's position going forwards, and the direction of England's opening partnership more generally.
Jacob Bethell
2 matches, 205 runs at 51.25, 1 hundred, HS: 154
A dream cameo for Bethell on his first trip Down Under. Coming into the series with the urn already gone and England rapidly unravelling could have been a hospital pass, but Bethell turned it into a golden opportunity. He scored 40 crucial runs in the final innings at the MCG in extreme conditions, before his superb maiden century in Sydney. He's fully earned the right to be England's No.3 for the foreseeable future.
ALSO READ: England's 10 best maiden Ashes tons: Where does Jacob Bethell rank?
Joe Root
5 matches, 400 runs at 44.44, 2 hundreds, HS: 160
So often the calm to England's chaos, Root was given another difficult hand to be England's pillar during what's likely his final Ashes trip Down Under. While his own returns couldn't salvage his teammates' failings, he successfully fended off Matthew Hayden's promise of a naked SCG walk with his first century Down Under. His parting gift was a big hundred in Perth, signing off with his stats in Australia corrected.
Steve Smith
4 matches, 286 runs at 57.20, 1 hundred, 1 fifty, HS: 138
Smith ended up leading Australia for most of the series, and played key innings with the bat. He was there at the end for Australia in both of the first two Tests, but had to wait until Sydney to break three figures. That innings took his tally of Ashes centuries to 13, leaving only Don Bradman ahead of him on the all-time list.
Alex Carey
5 matches, 323 runs at 46.14, 1 hundred, 2 fifties, HS: 106
Carey's impact across the series was felt both with bat and on the field. Standing up to the stumps when England's batters looked to come forwards to nullify Scott Boland was a blow to their plans, and he was central with the bat in both Brisbane and Adelaide. His performance highlighted Jamie Smith's struggles in starker light.
Beau Webster
1 match, 71 runs, 1 fifty, HS: 71*
3 wickets at 28.00, BBI: 3-64
One match was all that Webster needed to make a late entry to this side. He scored 71* in his only innings, boosting Australia's total to well over 500, and balanced the attack by providing off-spin which was responsible for the demise of three England batters. Webster just edges out Ben Stokes as the all-rounder in this XI. While Stokes bowled well throughout the series, he lacked a stand-out contribution with the bat, and Webster provides a spin option.
Mitchell Starc
5 matches, 31 wickets at 19.93, 2 five-fors, BBI: 7-58
156 runs at 26.00, 2 fifties, HS: 77
Starc was lethal for Australia from ball one. His 31 wickets were the most taken by an Australia pace bowler in an Ashes series since Mitchell Johnson in 2013, and his contributions with the bat in Brisbane and Adelaide added to England's frustrations in dismissing Australia's tail.
ALSO READ: England player ratings after their 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia
Michael Neser
3 matches, 15 wickets at 19.93, 1 five-for, 5-42
Neser's involvement in this series came down to injuries to Australia's primary quicks, but he slotted in seamlessly, adding to his superb record in day-night Tests in Brisbane before taking four-wicket hauls in both Melbourne and Sydney.
Scott Boland
5 matches, 20 wickets at 24.95, 0 five-fors, BBI: 4-33
After a tricky start to the series on day one in Perth, Boland tore through England on day two, removing three of their top five. He made reliably contributions throughout the series, and his economy rate of 3.12 stands out in a series where bowlers struggled not to leak runs.
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Josh Tongue
3 matches, 18 wickets at 20.11, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-45
Tongue is the only member of England's attack to make into this XI and stood head and shoulders above the majority of his teammates. He took five during England's win in Melbourne, and was easily the pick of the pack in Sydney.
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