Mark Taylor rates Australian players’ performances in Test series against West Indies

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has provided his player ratings for the recent Test series between Australia and the West Indies. Taylor assessed the performances of the Australian players, including middle-order batsmen Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne.

Taylor acknowledged that both Green and Labuschagne were unable to make significant contributions with the bat throughout the series, which ended in a 1-1 draw. However, he highlighted Green’s ability to bat through an innings and Labuschagne’s solid fielding skills, particularly as a first-time slip fielder.

Labuschagne’s struggles with the bat were mentioned by Taylor, who attributed it to the natural ebb and flow of the game of cricket. Taylor pointed out that Labuschagne needs to address his vulnerability to deliveries around the off stump, as it often results in him getting squared up.

Another player evaluated by Taylor was Travis Head, who had a mixed series but was awarded a six rating due to his match-winning century at the Adelaide Oval. However, Head’s subsequent King Pair at the Gabba was considered extraordinary. Taylor highlighted the fluctuating nature of Test cricket and expressed that Head’s performance against the West Indies was disappointing compared to his successful series against Pakistan.

Other players assessed by Taylor included wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who showcased good batting skills and kept well behind the stumps, and the consistent performances of bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. While Starc struggled with the ball in the second Test, he displayed improvement in the second innings. Taylor commended Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc for forming a formidable bowling trio throughout the summer.

Taylor regarded Cummins as the standout bowler for Australia in the series, while also acknowledging his captaincy skills. Despite some individual struggles, Taylor recognized the overall contributions of the Australian team in the series against the West Indies.