The more I think about this one the more I am slowly accepting the result. They were by far the better team with bat and ball, two or three individual performances kept us in it.
My ratings would be:
Watson - 4/10. Good start in the second innings and solid bowling but never looked threatening with bat or ball.
Rogers - 5/10. Unlucky in the 1st innings and workman-like in the 2nd, looked one of the more comfortable batters from either team.
Cowan - 2/10. Shocking with the bat, nearly took a ripper catch in the field on day 2. Maybe he was sicker than we thought or just not up to it.
Clarke - 4/10. Failed when we really needed him with the bat but showed great leadership in the field. His post-match interviews always come across as genuine, rest assured we will see runs from Clarkey soon.
Hughes - 5/10. Great 1st innings and unlucky in the 2nd, really looked far more mature then in previous tests.
Smith - 5/10. I liked both innings from Smith, he doesn't get overcome by emotion and always plays an attacking style. This kid has a big future, needs more purchase with the ball though.
Haddin - 6/10. Put down a simple catch of Bell on day 2 but made up for it with a brilliant 71 that nearly stole the game and could define his career.
Agar - 8/10. No words needed, bucket loads of potential.
Starc - 4/10. Few good wickets but never really dominated for long periods.
Siddle - 6/10. His 5 wickets put Australia on top early, disappointed he couldn't penetrate England's defence in the 2nd innings.
Pattinson - 6/10. Really didn't do much with the ball but created a great deal of excitement with the bat.
Bring on Test 2, rumours circling now are that Simon Katich, Jackson Bird, Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris are all in the selection frame. Davie Warner still on a plane to Zimbabwe.