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Aussies improved fielding proves a point of difference

Australia have outshone England in this series in the field, but importantly they have also improved on their efforts from last summer

It was a hallmark of the great Australian sides in the late '90s and early 2000s under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, and Pat Cummins' men are on their way to again being best in the world in the field.

Australia's Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to India last summer was blighted by several dropped catches at key moments, including four on the final day of the drawn Sydney Test.

And while chances were also missed on the fifth day of this year's Sydney Test too, statistics show that this season the Australians have lifted their game in the field.

Cricket Australia's High Performance department records every catch taken and run out completed and rates every catch and run out missed into three grades. 

Grade one chances are expected to be taken, grade two chances are difficult chances that players are still encouraged to attempt, and grade three are the miracle efforts.

As a result, only grade one chances are counted against a team or a player's record as they don't want the players to be discouraged from going for the more difficult chances.  

In last summer's shock series defeat to India, Australia missed six grade one chances in four Tests, for an overall chance completion rate of 89 per cent. 

In the current Ashes series, Australia have missed four grade one chances in four Tests, for an overall completion rate of 93 per cent.

Interestingly, and perhaps fortuitously, Australia's grade one dropped catches have been largely inconsequential.

Australians not made to pay for 'grade one' blunders

Mitchell Starc dropped Ollie Robinson off Cameron Green in the gully in Adelaide, but Robinson was out two balls later without scoring.

And Steve Smith dropped Dawid Malan at slip off Nathan Lyon in the same match, but Malan was out to the next ball he faced. 

Marcus Harris and Alex Carey also have grade one missed run outs against their name.

Australia's newest Test wicketkeeper Carey has had a mixed series with the gloves.  

On debut in Brisbane, he broke the record for most catches by a player in their first match, taking three catches in the first innings and five in the second.  

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Throughout the four Tests, he's taken 18 catches, the most of any player.  

He's also missed three grade two chances and there have been two instances of the ball flying between him and first slip.

Those circumstances are much harder to define and as a result are not a mark against either the keeper of the first slip.

Carey's opposite number Jos Buttler, who has since returned home to England with a fractured left index finger, also had a mixed series behind the stumps. He took 12 catches (including three stunners) but missed seven, one grade one, two grade twos and four rated as grade three chances.

Smith, despite his grade one drop, has been Australia's best outfielder with 11 catches to his name, while David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne have each completed five catches. 

Not only have Australia outperformed themselves from last year, but they've outperformed their opponents England too. 

England have missed six grade one chances this series, and their completion rate is sitting at 87% after four Tests.

In terms of total missed chances, Australia have missed 12 whereas England have missed more than double that, at 25. 

Despite missing a few close chances on at the SCG as England held on for the draw, the home side's fielding has drawn praise from Test legend Ricky Ponting.   

"To be fair they've probably been sloppier in the field in this (Sydney) Test than they have right through the series," Ponting told the Unplayable Podcast after the draw at the SCG. 

"Their fielding and their cricket throughout the series has been pretty exemplary."

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs

Third Test: Australia won by an innings and 14 runs

Fourth Test: Match drawn

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena