The Ashes 2015: Updated Power Rankings for England vs. Australia

England drew first blood in the Ashes, beating Australia by 169 runs in the opening Test in Cardiff, Wales.

Alastair Cook's side began their bid to regain the miniature urn in impressive fashion, recovering from a shaky start in the Welsh capital to triumph with a day to spare.

Prior to the first match of the series, we released our power rankings for the two teams.

Before the old rivals meet again at Lord's in the second Test, there is just enough time to update the standings and see who now sits in top spot.

While the Test at the Swalec Stadium has obviously had a major importance in the positions, one swallow does not make a summer. 

Just because Michael Clarke was the losing captain, for instance, does not mean he's suddenly shifted to the bottom of the pile.

Also, while Adil Rashid and Mitchell Marsh were both included in the initial list, they do not feature this time around as they have were not selected for the opening Test.

As ever, you can share your views on the rankings via the comments section.

Previous position: 22

Poor Shane Watson—if the first Test does just happen to be his last, it rather summed up his career as a whole.

The all-rounder made two starts with the bat (30 in the first innings and then 19 second time around) before being dismissed lbw on each occasion. Of course, Watson reviewed both times but failed to get the decisions reversed.

He also bowled a grand total of 13 overs in the match, going wicketless.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann admitted Mitchell Marsh was “very close, very close” to getting picked ahead of Watson, per Nick Hoult of the Telegraph.

The writing is on the wall for Watson, and Lord's could see him dropped from the XI.

Previous position: 10

Watson isn't the only Australian drinking in the last chance saloon—Brad Haddin's performance in Cardiff has led to questions about whether it is time for him to be put on the international scrapheap.

The wicketkeeper had a game to forget, starting with his failure to cling on to a relatively easy chance behind the stumps on the first morning.

Joe Root edged the second ball he faced, yet Haddin fluffed his lines. The miss proved costly, as the England batsman went on to make 134 out of a total of 430.

The 37-year-old also looked woefully out of sorts with the bat, though that's hardly surprising considering he has made just one half-century since the last Test of the previous Ashes series, in Sydney in January 2014.

Previous position: 20

England's impressive victory means there will be little focus on the team heading to Lord's.

Opener Adam Lyth did little wrong in truth, but he didn't produce an innings of note that suggested he will thrive in the heat of an Ashes battle either.

He was an early casualty on Day 1 and then, second time around, played aggressively to reach 37 before edging Nathan Lyon to slip.

Still, it must be remembered he scored a century in his previous Test, against New Zealand. England will be patient as they strive to find a long-term partner for captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order.

Previous position: 16

Despite being 35, Adam Voges made just his third Test appearance in Cardiff.

A century on debut in the West Indies saw him take to the game like a duck to water, and he could point to the added advantage of knowing English conditions from his many summers playing county cricket.

However, his first experience of the Ashes was not a particularly positive one.

He made it to 31 in Australia's first innings before a badly timed drive saw him dismissed just before the close on Day 2.

In the final innings, Voges managed just a single during his 16-ball stay at the crease.

Previous position: 15

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler had a solid game behind the stumps, conceding a combined total of 10 byes while making sure he held on to the catches that came his way.

However, he was quiet with the bat on his Ashes debut, getting out in disappointing ways in both knocks.

In the first innings he had reached 27 before perishing right before the close on Day 1, chipping Josh Hazlewood tamely to mid-on.

When he came out to bat for a second time England already had a healthy lead, setting up the chance for Buttler to cut loose. Instead, on seven, he gloved a reverse-sweep to opposite number Brad Haddin.

Previous position: 19

Seamer Mark Wood proved the perfect back-up to England's opening pairing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

The Durham bowler picked up two wickets in each innings, with his maiden Ashes scalp seeing him dismiss Chris Rogers when the Australian was five runs shy of a century.

He also added some useful runs down the order in the home team's second innings, making an unbeaten 32 that pushed the lead beyond 400.

Most importantly, though, Wood seemed comfortable being involved in such a huge series. But, can his body hold up for back-to-back Tests? England will be hoping so.

Previous position: 17

Gary Ballance's role in England's recovery from a shaky start on the first morning was perhaps overlooked due to Joe Root's century.

Having come together at 43 for three, the two Yorkshire batsmen combined in a fourth-wicket partnership worth 153. Ballance contributed 61 before being trapped leg before wicket by Josh Hazlewood.

His knock was praised by former England captain Nasser Hussain, who wrote in his column for the Daily Mail: "No one can accuse Ballance of cutting an elegant figure at the crease, but a Test average of 52 says that doesn’t matter a jot."

He failed to trouble the scorers second time around, though he should relish a return to Lord's.

He is already on the honours board twice, having made hundreds against Sri Lanka and India at the ground last summer.

Previous position: 17

While Chris Rogers has dropped down two spots in the rankings, it's not necessarily all good news for the batsman.

The left-hander was Australia's top-scorer in the match, easing his way to 95 in the first innings before being caught behind off the bowling of Mark Wood.

Stuart Broad trapped him leg before wicket for 10 early on Day 4, ending Rogers' run of seven consecutive half-centuries in Test action.

However, he looked all of his 37 years when he didn't have a bat in his hand. The most notable moment came when Adam Lyth skewed a cut shot high into the air, yet Rogers never plucked the ball out of the sky. It landed not far from him at mid-off, much to the delight of the England spectators.

Rogers told Sky Sports after Friday's play: "Days in the field are hard work and even just being in this environment is fairly draining." Therefore, it's no shock that he's retiring at the end of the series.

Previous position: 12

Ben Stokes played a part with both bat and ball as England sealed the series opener in style.

The Durham all-rounder made 52 on Day 1 of the match, playing with real fluency before he was bowled by Mitchell Starc, who held his finger to his lips in a gesture of silence to send Stokes on his way.

He was out to the same bowler in the similar fashion in the second innings, though he was unfortunate that an inside edge cut short his enterprising knock of 32.

As for his solitary wicket with the ball, the seamer managed to tempt Adam Voges to chip to short cover just before the close on Day 2.

Previous position: 7

David Warner had a relatively quiet first Test, at least when it comes to his output of runs.

Normally the man who gets Australia up and running with a flurry of boundaries, the left-hander found himself battling for survival against the new ball.

Both James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowled superbly at Warner, who was dismissed by the former for 17 in the first innings.

He managed to reach 52 after nearly two hours at the crease in his side's failed run chase, only to be trapped leg before wicket by spinner Moeen Ali right before lunch on Day 4.

Previous position: 12

Josh Hazlewood looked the part on his Ashes bow, even if fellow paceman Mitchell Starc did end up taking more wickets than his team-mate.

The New South Welshman made an immediate impact on his first Ashes appearance, including getting his side an early breakthrough with the new ball on Day 1.

He ended up taking three for 83 in England's first innings and then added two more wickets to his tally second time around.

A tall seamer who looks to bowl a tight line and length, Hazlewood could thrive at Lord's if he can get used to the slope. However, plenty of visiting bowlers have found the vagaries of the famous ground difficult to cope with.

Previous position: 14

Nathan Lyon never had the chance to work with both the game and the pitch in his favour.

Still, the off-spinner was, as ever, solid for his country. On Day 1 he dismissed Alastair Cook before lunch, the first of two wickets he picked up in England's first innings.

He doubled that tally second time around, although he was aided by the home team's attacking intent. Still, figures of four for 75 left Australia chasing just 412 for victory.

Lyon's dismissal early on Day 3, having been sent in the previous evening as nightwatchman, was the first time England had managed to get him out since the fourth Test of the 2013 Ashes series.

Previous position: 21

Moeen Ali enjoys a meteoric rise in the rankings after his excellent display in Cardiff.

The selection of Adil Rashid in England's 13-man squad for the match put the off-spinning all-rounder under a little pressure for his place, but he responded impressively.

First, he made runs. Important runs too, as his 77 in the hosts' first innings made sure the tail—often ruthlessly blown away by Mitchell Johnson in the previous Ashes series in 2013/14—wagged.

However, his wickets were even more important. He dismissed Steve Smith and Michael Clarke, Australia's best two players of spin, as he claimed match figures of five for 130.

Previous position: 11

Runs for Ian Bell offered England's management team one more reason to be cheerful after the victory in Wales.

The Warwickshire batsman had endured a miserable time of it of late—in his last eight Test innings prior to the series opener against Australia, he'd scored just 55 runs.

He failed again in the first innings but enjoyed some much-needed time in the middle when making 60 on Day 3.

It was also pleasing from an England perspective to see him hanging on to any opportunities that came his way in the slips, as he took two catches on what turned out to be the final day of the match.

Previous position: 1

Blunted by a slow-paced pitch and barracked by the England fans throughout, Mitchell Johnson will be happy to forget all about the first Test.

Sadly, though, it is just the latest example of the bowler struggling to make an impact in an Ashes series away from home.

He picked up match figures of two for 180, meaning his most notable contribution in the match was the 77 runs he belted while batting in the dying stages of the contest.

Johnson did at least seem to keep his sense of humour during a difficult outing, doffing his cap to the crowd when they ironically cheered him going for a century of runs in England's first innings.

Previous position: 8

James Anderson may have only taken three wickets in the match, but he was integral to England's bowling effort throughout in Cardiff.

The Lancashire seamer helped set the tone with his new-ball spells, probing away while always challenging the opposing batsmen with movement through the air.

He got the opening wicket, David Warner edging to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, and then helped mop up the lower order on the third morning, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Starc his other two victims.

He went wicketless in the second innings, though that was not for a lack of trying. Like Mitchell Johnson, he is a bowler who thrives in Ashes battles on home soil.

Previous position: 3

Steve Smith made 33 in both innings for Australia. But, considering he has hit seven centuries in his previous 12 Tests, his output in Wales has to be considered a failure.

Batting at three is always going to be a test in English conditions, but the touring side's vice-captain managed to get himself up and running on each occasion.

In the first innings he got out in a rather tame manner, chunking a catch to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket after getting himself in a bit of tangle when running down the wicket at spinner Moeen Ali.

England did, in truth, bowl well at Smith, sticking as tightly as they could to a line outside off stump.

It will be interesting to see if they maintain a patient approach, and, if so, how the Australian adapts.

Previous position: 2

For 14.4 overs, Michael Clarke must have been delighted with how things were going for his side. Then, Joe Root was dropped off the next delivery and everything changed from there.

Australia's captain saw his seam bowlers struggle to contain England, with their lack of consistency making it tough for the skipper to know where to place his fielders.

As for the batting, the first innings saw all the top six get themselves in, only to then get out.

Clarke was as guilty as the rest, coming down the wicket to drive a return catch straight back to Moeen Ali when he had eased his way to 38.

He failed to make it into double figures on the Saturday afternoon, summing up a miserable match for both himself and his team.

Previous position: 9

Stuart Broad seems to relish the chance to bowl at Australia—he has now taken 68 wickets against England's Ashes rivals, all at an average of 29.20.

He may have only picked up five in the match at the Swalec Stadium, but that return doesn't do his efforts justice.

Together with James Anderson, he kept Australia's top-order players under control and was particularly impressive in each innings when bowling with the new ball.

Booed during every appearance he made on the Ashes tour of 2013/14, Broad lapped up the home comforts of having a crowd right behind him.

Previous position: 5

Despite mustering only 32 runs with the bat, Alastair Cook deserves his place in the top five due to his performance as captain alone.

Inventive with his field placings and always looking to attack, he marshalled his troops superbly. He himself twice took catches while standing at short mid-wicket for his spinner, Moeen Ali.

New England coach Trevor Bayliss described Cook's leadership in the game as "top-notch," per George Dobell of ESPN Cricinfo.

His batting was uncharacteristically aggressive in its intent, and that caused his downfall on both occasions.

While leading in a positive manner is one thing, the left-hander should stick to his methods of accumulation. England need their skipper to lead from the front with big runs.

Previous position: 6

Mitchell Starc's match figures were one of the few bright spots for Australia in an otherwise dismal performance.

The left-arm paceman finished with seven for 174, including taking a five-wicket haul in England's first innings. Although lacking in consistency at times, he was always a threat with the ball.

His efforts were even more impressive considering he was hampered by an injury picked up on the opening day.

Starc grimaced through his work at times, though the tourists are hopeful he will have recovered from the ankle problem in time to play at Lord's, per Sky Sports.

With Ryan Harris forced to retire due to knee problems, Australia can ill-afford to lose another bowler so early in the tour.

Previous position: 4

Joe Root takes over top spot, which is hardly a surprise considering the run of form he's in right now.

Despite England wobbling at 43 for three, and despite being dropped second ball, the Yorkshireman played with freedom and flair to make 134 in the first innings.

His hundred set the game up for the hosts, though he still weighed in with 60 second time around for good measure.

A couple of late wickets with his off-spin capped off a superb performance from England's vice-captain—he was understandably named Man of the Match.

All stats used in the rankings are from ESPN Cricinfo