The Ashes 2023 has been one of the best Test series of all-time already, and there are still two more Tests to go in the series. Australia won the first two Tests in Edgbaston and Lord’s but never looked to run away with the Ashes as the matches were really close.
The third one too, at Headingley, was once again a tight finish, but this time the hosts prevailed and made the scoreline 2-1. Both teams now head into the 4th Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Both teams have had some really strong individual performances leading to such tight matches. While Khawaja, Stokes lead the way with the bat, it is Broad and Cummins at the top of the wickets chart.
There have also been, however, some big name players who have performed underwhelmingly so far and haven’t been at their best.
3 Players Who Have Disappointed In The Ashes 2023 So Far:
James Anderson
It is all but certain that James Anderson is playing his last career Ashes series; he will turn 41 late this July end, and is unlikely to play in the next Ashes series in Australia in 2025/26.
However, Anderson, who had done brilliantly over the past couple of years in home conditions, didn’t have the kind of start to the series that he would have liked. It hasn’t been a fruitful Ashes 2023 so far for James Anderson, he picked up only three wickets at an average of 75.33, although he was a bit unlucky with some catch drops, and he’s kept a tidy economy of 2.93.
Jonny Bairstow
Returning from a long injury layoff, Jonny Bairstow cracked a run-a-ball 78 on Day 1 of the series in Edgbaston. After that, his scores have dipped down significantly – in his last 5 innings, he’s managed scores of 20, 16, 10, 12 and 5. He’s currently averaging only 23.5 in 3 Tests now.
Plus, his poor wicket-keeping has not helped Bairstow with many fans and experts demanding England pick a better wicket-keeper in Ben Foakes than Bairstow, despite Bairstow being the chief contributor to England’s Bazball success last year at home this time around.
Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne is having a shockingly dismal series so far. In 6 innings of 3 Tests so far in Ashes 2023, Marnus Labuschagne has managed only 144 runs at an average of 24 with not even a single half-century; he has a highest score of 47. He’s scored 30 or more thrice in 6 innings, but failed to convert it into a big knock.
It was in the 2019 Ashes series tour in England that Labuschagne turned his career around with a spate of half-centuries. He needs to get back a similar mojo to get back amongst runs.
