It was a tour to forget for Joe Root and England as Australia regained the Ashes with a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Despite some glimmers of positivity across the five matches, the tourists rarely had much to be pleased with.

Dawid Malan impressed despite questions about his talent before the series, while James Anderson was the only England bowler to come away with his pride in tact.

Omnisport's Alex Fisher reviews how England's players fared throughout the series.

Alastair Cook - 4

His outstanding 244 not out in Melbourne apart, it was a disappointing series for Cook as he failed to give England the solid base from which to be competitive. Aside from his knock at the MCG, the opener averaged 16.5 from his other eight innings, nowhere near what Joe Root needs from his most experienced batsman.

Mark Stoneman - 4

Little was expected from Stoneman after poor performances against West Indies in England and - although he picked up two fifties - he lived up to pre-tour expectations by only scoring 232 runs across the five games.

James Vince - 3

Things looked so positive for Vince when he made 83 in the opening innings of the tour in Brisbane. Sadly, it was all downhill from there as faults in his technique were exposed by Australia's seam trio. All too often Vince was dismissed pushing at a ball outside his off stump – the number three caught behind the wicket on six occasions - a problem that could see his Test career come to a premature end.

Joe Root - 6

Battled valiantly – especially in Sydney when suffering from viral gastroenteritis – but the skipper continues to struggle turning fifties into centuries, Root claiming five half-centuries and no hundreds. Leading a side bereft of quality is a thankless task but Root soldiered on and tried some innovative ideas to keep things fresh. Sadly, it rarely worked as Steve Smith and his batsmen dominated.

Dawid Malan - 7

The only England batsman to come away with his reputation enhanced after top scoring with 383 runs at 42.55, much higher than many anticipated. While Cook's huge score came after the series was lost, Malan's bit contribution in Perth gave England faint hope of keeping Australia at bay. Malan more than anyone has cemented his place in England's middle order.
 

Jonny Bairstow - 6

Similarly to Cook, Bairstow's big score of the series - a century in Perth - should not hide the fact that he failed to reach fifty in any other innings of the tour. A caveat to that is he was forced to bat with the tail in the first two Tests after coming in at seven. Behind the wickets he continues to improve and impress, taking 10 catches and completing one stumping. His place is not under pressure, providing there are no more incidents like the one with Cameron Bancroft.

Moeen Ali - 1

With premier all-rounder Ben Stokes absent there was huge pressure on Ali and he wilted under it, failing with bat and ball in a miserable series. Dismissed seven times by Nathan Lyon, averaging just 19 and only claiming five wickets shows his lack of impact. Side and finger injuries did not help but they do not disguise an abysmal five Tests.

Chris Woakes - 4

Early signs suggested Woakes could be England's secret weapon with his extra pace and control, but like many others in the bowling attack his line and length were nowhere near good enough to trouble Australia's batsmen on home soil. His handy runs lower down the order also failed to materialise, his best a knock of 36 in Adelaide.

Stuart Broad - 5

There is no doubting Broad's ability - he has consistently shown he is England's second-best bowler behind James Anderson - but he struggled in Australia. He bowled too short too often and was duly punished on pitches where pace was key – only taking 11 wickets across the five matches at 47.72.

James Anderson - 8

Another Ashes tour in Australia and another heavy workload for Anderson, England's highest Test wicket taker adding 17 to his tally from a mammoth 223.3 overs – nearly 30 more than strike partner Broad. Even without the swing that makes him so dangerous, Anderson continued to trouble Australian batsman, which is why Root continued to throw him the ball.

Tom Curran - 4

Getting your chance when the urn was already Australia's is never an easy situation to go into but Curran handled himself well. As with every other England bowler he lacked the pace to worry and was sprayed around the MCG and SCG, going at 100 with just two wickets to his name.

Craig Overton - 6

The one seamer who had genuinely caused panic in the Australian batting line-up. If only he could have stayed fit – a cracked rib ending his series prematurely in Perth. Overton made a good impression with bat and ball, though, and could easily force his way back into the reckoning.

Jake Ball - 4

So determined were England to have Ball involved in the opening Test they rushed him back, and it cost them as he conceded runs at an alarming rate in Brisbane, the seamer finishing with 1-115. He did not feature again as the tourists shuffled their pack, leaving his future in the balance.

Mason Crane - 3

Thrown in for his debut in Sydney with England already 3-0 down was a thankless task for leg-spinner Crane, and Australia took full advantage he could only return figures of 1-193 from 48 overs.