Australia v England player ratings as Chris Woakes is on cloud nine but David Warner scores a four

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  • Chris Woakes was on fire for the second match in a row.

    England put Australia to the sword once again to reaffirm their limited-overs dominance and captured the ODI series by running away to an unassailable 3-0 lead.

    Jos Buttler‘s superb unbeaten ton was the game-changer for the visitors at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as they beat the hosts by 16 runs.

    Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bowl first and he would have anticipated it was the right decision with England on the ropes in the first 40 overs.

    However, Buttler combined with Chris Woakes for some late fireworks to take the visitors to 302-6 in their 50 overs. The hosts could only manage 286-6 as England’s bowlers, especially Mark Wood, kept a tight leash on the batsmen.

    Here, we look rate both sets of players from the third ODI.

    AUSTRALIA

    Aaron Finch 7: The Australian opener looked to be on course for his third ODI hundred on the bounce after racing away to his half-century. He fell for 62 ultimately but his innings did give the hosts a foothold in the big chase.

    The opener was looking good for his third ton in as many matches.

    The opener was looking good for his third ton in as many matches.

    David Warner 4: Finch’s opening partner has failed to really get going so far in the series and he struggled again on Sunday after pushing a Woakes delivery straight to extra cover to be dismissed for just eight runs.

    Cameron White 5: The former T20I skipper’s comeback to the side after all these years hasn’t exactly been the stuff of dreams. Promoted to number three in the batting on Sunday, White got off to a decent start but failed to convert as he knicked a Mark Wood delivery to the wicket-keeper. He dropped a sitter in the field as well.

    Steve Smith 7: The Aussie skipper was looking his usual solid self and was set up nicely in the chase as he kept the required-rate under check. However, just when it looked like Smith would take Australia all the way home, Buttler snapped up a terrific catch behind the stumps to send the Ashes hero on his way.

    Mitchell Marsh 8: The all-rounder shone with both bat and ball but it wasn’t enough to get the hosts over the line. Picked up the one wicket in his three overs before taking on the mantle of driving Australia’s chase. He registered his 11th ODI fifty in an innings which kept victory within sights for the hosts but holed out to long-on just before the start of the death overs.

    Marcus Stoinis 8: The Australian all-rounder gave it his all and there was simply nothing more he could have done on the day. He bowled economically picking up the one wicket before providing the fireworks with the bat in hand as he scored 56 off just 43 deliveries. He was simply left with too much to do when he came out to bat.

    Tim Paine 7: The Australian wicket-keeper returned from illness and put in an assured performance with the bat but just like Stoinis, it was too late for him to make a winning impact. He struggled to find the boundaries as the asking-rate kept piling up and Paine remained unbeaten on 31.

    Mitchell Starc 5: The Aussie pace spearhead was not at his very best on the day as he went on a wicketless toil. Went for around run-a-ball and failed to create the impact he would have liked.

    Pat Cummins 5: After being rested at Brisbane, the pacer was a little wayward to begin with but soon found his rhythm to dismiss Jason Roy. He was taken for some punishment towards the death overs though.

    Adam Zampa 6: The leggie was back in the playing XI as Smith elected to go with a specialist spinner and was decent without being outstanding. He did bowl the perfect googly to castle Bairstow’s stumps after setting him beautifully.

    Josh Hazlewood 7: The Aussie pacer returned to the side after recovering from the flu and bowled well to pick up the wickets of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. He was difficult to get away on the Sydney pitch with his nagging line and lengths.

    Hazlwood was Australia's best bowler on the day.

    Hazlwood was Australia’s best bowler on the day.

    ENGLAND

    Jason Roy 5: Not the best of days for the England opener whose record-breaking ton in the first ODI is still fresh in the mind. He got off to a good start but drove straight to extra cover just when he seemed to be coming into his groove.

    Jonny Bairstow 7: England did not get off to the best opening with the bat but Bairstow soldiered ahead on a two-paced pitch. He looked set to be in for the long haul before being deceived with the perfect googly by Zampa.

    Bairstow started well before being undone by a Zampa googly.

    Bairstow started well before being undone by a Zampa googly.

    Alex Hales 3: A poor day in the office for the big-hitter who failed to find his timing on a difficult pitch. He eventually mistimed a drive to mid-on to end an uncomfortable eight-ball stay at the crease.

    Joe Root 6: The Englishman looked to be setting himself up for another big score on his 100th ODI appearance for his country. However, the two-paced nature of the surface did him in as he chopped on to Hazlewood for 27.

    Eoin Morgan 7: The skipper dug England out of a hole along with Buttler and was approaching his half-century when he trickled an edge to Paine while trying to run the ball down to third-man. It was an important innings in context of the circumstances.

    Jos Buttler 9: The England wicket-keeper batsman did not set a foot wrong all day with a sublime unbeaten ton off just 83 deliveries as he tore into Australia’s bowlers in the final 10 overs. He was excellent behind the stumps too snapping up a great low tumbling catch to send back Smith who was looking extremely good.

    Moeen Ali 5: A disappointing day for the all-rounder who once again failed with the bat as his horror run Down Under continued. Ali scored just six runs despite being given a lifeline and then bowled an ordinary spell without any wickets to show for to complete an unremarkable match for him.

    Chris Woakes 9: For the second time running, the England all-rounder was superb in all departments. His quick-fire unbeaten fifty along with Buttler’s ton turned the game on its head. He then returned with the ball to pick up two crucial wickets to cap off another fine performance.

    Woakes put in a match-winning all-round show for the second game running.

    Woakes put in a match-winning all-round show for the second game running.

    Adil Rashid 8: The leg-spinner bowled with good intelligence and variation in a tight spell which kept Australia on the leash. He dismissed Finch with a slider before accounting for Marsh in what was a very crucial period of play. He was much more effective than Zampa was on the same surface showing how handy he is to the limited-overs setup.

    Liam Plunkett 5: The tall pacer’s match was cut short just two deliveries into his second over as he went down clutching his hamstring. He did not return to bowl after that though England did well to manage with a bowler short.

    Mark Wood 8: The fast-bowler was the pick of England’s bowlers with some extremely tight bowling which never allowed the batsmen to get away. He chipped in with the crucial wickets of Smith and White too to break Australia’s back and lead the visitors to victory.

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