Here are my thoughts on each individual player...
Australia
Shane Watson - Will be disappointed not to have gone on in the first innings after gaining a good start. Batted well in the second innings despite the game being dead and he's likely to be a thorn in England's side throughout the series. I have a feeling Swann will be the man to pick up Watson the most because of his tendency to go very hard against the spinners. Picked up the wicket of the Trott in the first innings and bowled well in parts throughout the match.
7
Simon Katich - A very impressive stay at the crease on the second day. Obdurate in defence and punchy in attack, Katich survived an outstanding spell of new ball bowling from Anderson to lay a platform for his middle order to plunder on a flatter pitch. Out for very little in the second innings but by that time the game was over and Katich will be pleased with his performance in this match.
8
Ricky Pointing - Strangled down the legside by Anderson, the captain's dismissal will do nothing to quieten the doubters about his once - outstanding back foot play. Positive in the second innings and got hist just reward on a flat pitch with an unbeaten 40. What will be most worrying for Pointing are his captaincy, which was bereft of ideas, and the lack of penetration from his bowling attack.
5
Michael Clarke - Clarke's painstaking 10 from 50 balls in the first innings was so far away from his usual fluency that it was clear something wasn't quite right. A dodgy back, no appetite for the short stuff and a host of hungry young Australian batsman mean that the vice-captain's position is seriously under threat for Adelaide. Oh and he dropped a sitter. One to forget.
3
Michael Hussey - Hussey at his best is a sight to behold and this was just that. With Australia teetering on the brink of collapse, 'Mr Cricket' counter attacked with a sparkling hundred that will typify his danger to the England team. Proved the critics wrong and showed that the Australian middle order has still got some fight left in it. Simply Outstanding.
9
Marcus North - The weakest link (along with an injury stricken Clarke) in the Australian top seven, North is under fire after another sub - standard performance. Cheaply dismissed in the first innings and in a bad run of form if it wasn't for his bowling I would happily award him a 0 for his contribution to the match. Ironically he picked up the hosts only wicket in England's second innings.
3
Brad Haddin - Another sticking it to the critics, Haddin's hundred in this match has gone along way in silencing the doubters. Mixed some typical flashy strokeplay with patient defence, highlighting his threat in the series. Not much to write about his glovework. Overall, a very good Test Match.
9
Mitchell Johnson - Wicketless for the first time in his Test Match career, Johnson had an absolute stinker. Clueless with the ball, he continually sprayed the ball from one side of the wicket to the other. He built no pressure on any England batsman and provided a valuable source of easy runs. He got a duck, dropped a sitter and looks like the least confident cricketer in Australia. Prime candidate to be dropped for Doug Bollinger.
1
Xavier Doherty - Thrown in at the deep end and completely out of his depth the left arm spinner actually bowled okay in parts and certainly turned the ball sharply on a pitch that wasn't particularly conducive to spin. However, he was a bit too easy to accumulate from for the England batters and he's not really got much of a future as a Test Match cricketer. Should have picked the more experienced Hauritz.
5
Ben Hilfenhaus - Hilfenhaus will be generally disappointed in his performance. Caused problems with the new ball in both innings and his ability to swing the ball will be invaluable throughout the series, but far too often he bowled short on a pitch that was crying out for the bowler to pitch it up. For a bowler who prides himself on control and discipline it was a very uncharacteristic display.
4
Peter Siddle - The stand out performer in the Australian bowling attack, Siddle's electrifying hat-trick on the first day was the moment of the match and will be remembered by all who witnessed it for a very long time. He got to grips with conditions better than any other bowler in the match and proved that he was deserved of his selection.
8
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