2025 ratings: Grading each Australian Test player

Who has been the best Australian Test player this year?

SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan and Tom Morris have rated each of the Aussie Test players based on their performances in the 2025 calendar year.

See their ratings below:

Mitch Starc: A++

Bharat: “He could be A++ really. He was just phenomenal this year.

“His stats are outrageous, but just some of the things he did and spells he bowled… he was just something else.

“He made vital contributions with the bat as well. He is Australia’s cricketer of the year for me.”

Morris: “He took more wickets than any other bowler in Test cricket - 55 of them at an average of 17 with three five-wicket hauls.

“Talk about career years. Phenomenal stuff.

“He is arguably Australia’s most important player due to his ability to get wickets early.”

Alex Carey: A+

Bharat: “He gets an A+. The best wicket-keeper in the world in Test cricket.

“He’s just done everything right. Crucial runs. He’s been welcomed into the pantheon of wicket-keeping royalty in Australia.”

Morris: “He’s had a career year. His numbers are excellent, only five players have made more Test runs than him this year.

“767 runs, a highest score of 156, an average of 48, two centuries, four fifties. The year that Carey always wanted to have.

“He deserves all the praise he gets.”

Scott Boland: A+

Bharat: “He’s in the A+ category. He had a Test hat-trick (against the West Indies) as well.

“A sensational year for Scott Boland who just keeps getting better.

“He finished the year as a Test opener (batter) as well.”

Morris: “Only six bowlers took more wickets than Boland this year.

“32 wickets at an average of 15. He had an extended run in the side that he hadn’t had before and it’s fair to say he made the most of his opportunity.”

Travis Head: A

Bharat: “I give Head a strong A.

“He often bailed Australia out batting at 5 and 6, then he transitioned to an opener in this Ashes series.

“Maybe a bit harsh by not giving him an A+.”

Morris: “I think A is right.

“Only Shubman Gill made more Test runs in 2025.

“He deserves all the accolades he gets. He’s at the peak of his powers.”

Steve Smith: A

Bharat: “He started so well.

“It’s almost before and after that finger injury he copped at Lord’s.

“He’s an A, I don’t think any Australian batter gets into the A+ category.”

Morris: “Two centuries this year and he averaged 50.”

Pat Cummins: A

Bharat: “We didn’t see a lot of Pat in 2025.

“With the numbers he delivered it’s an A for sure.

“He rocked up for the Adelaide Test, played a huge role in winning that, and then said ‘that’s it, I’m done’.

“He brought the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back and then won the Ashes even only playing one Test.”

Morris: “26 wickets from six Tests at an average of 16.

“So when he played he was really effective.”

Michael Neser: A

Bharat: “Very short year to grade. There were times when we and he thought his Test career was over.

“It’s tough to judge two Test matches but he did nothing wrong, he did everything right.

“He’s take a five-wicket haul, he’s top scored in one of the innings on a difficult pitch, and then took four wickets and got rid of Joe Root.”

Morris: “He took 10 wickets in two Tests.

“The gap between his best and worst is razor-thin. He always contributes in some respect.”

Beau Webster: B+

Bharat: “He had a strong start to his Test career.

“He had a ridiculous quirk of seven Test matches in six different countries.

“He looked like he belongs. Then that was it. I never thought he would keep his place in the team since Green and Marnus were back.”

Morris: “Seven Test matches, averaging 34 with four half centuries, made some important runs and took eight wickets.

“He just didn’t get that three-figure score which would have locked him in for a bit longer.”

Usman Khawaja: B

Bharat: “After two dream seasons as the best Test opener in the world, he did start to look a bit out of sorts early on this year.

“This summer officially he got dropped. The back spasm thing happened in Perth, he wasn’t fit to play in the Gabba, and he was dropped in Adelaide.

“Then the Steve Smith verge thing happens and he comes back in classic Usman Khawaja fashion in making 82 and 40.

“I’d give him a B.”

Morris: “Usman has had a really interesting year.

“This is the issue with Khawaja and the Australian selectors if he continues to keep playing - is a B enough to continue persisting with a 39-year-old?”

Nathan Lyon: B

Bharat: “It’s been a tough year for Lyon. He barely bowled last summer.

“He didn’t have much of an impact on the WTC Final, bowled beautifully to set up the Adelaide Test win.

“He would have taken more wickets if he didn’t get the hamstring injury.”

Morris: “29 wickets in eight Test matches at an average of 25 with two four-wicket hauls.

“He was dropped twice based on conditions. He’s still Australia’s no.1 spinner but there are question marks around his durability.”

Josh Inglis: B

Bharat: “Very small sample size. He made his debut hundred in Galle and looked the part.

“He just couldn’t find a spot in the team before finding himself at no.7 in Brisbane and Adelaide.

“It’s not easy being a specialist no.7, it’s an odd position to be in.”

Morris: “It was a bit square peg in round hole.

“I like the fact they gave him a go but it’s not viable long term.

“184 runs at 26 with one century. That probably props him up a bit.”

Jake Weatherald: C+

Bharat: “We’ve seen only four Tests of Weatherald.

“A big tick for him to be picked in the Australian team. He’s worked his way through for the last 10 years to break into the Test team.

“He’s at times look settled as a Test opener. But he’s also got himself out. A very small sample size.”

Morris: “Rating him a B would be generous. I’d be giving him a C, or C+ with room to move.

“A ton in Sydney would make a huge difference, or even a 50 or 60.”

Marnus Labuschagne: D

Bharat: “His worst year as a batter in Test cricket. He averaged just 20.

“He didn’t start the year too flash. Eventually lost his place in the team before earning his way back with five hundreds.

“He’s somewhere between D and F.”

Morris: “Two half centuries from 15 innings.”

Cam Green: D-

Bharat: “He could probably be, alongside Marnus, an Australian player who could almost go to F.

“The only reason I would give him an out is because he came back to Test cricket from injury.

“He had to bat at no.3 against South Africa, tough start in the Caribbean but he made a very hard-working half century, the just fell away in the Ashes.

“He’s gone from being the long term no.3 to batting at 6, to 5, to 7. That I’m sure didn’t help either.

“A year to forget for Cam Green.”

Morris: “14 innings, 300 runs, highest score of 52, average of 21 and three wickets.

“Australian cricket needs more from Cam Green next year. His attributes require him to be a dominant player within a couple of years.”

Jhye Richardson: N/A

Bharat: “Well done, you marked your attendance, we’re so happy to see you back but we’ll just wait and watch.”

Morris: “A tiny sample size very hard to give a grade to him.”

Josh Hazlewood: N/A

Bharat: “You feel bad for Hazlewood not being able to play in this Ashes series.”

Morris: “Hazlewood at his best is just a sight to behold.”

Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, Sam Konstas and Cooper Connolly: N/A