After England’s first home Test series defeat in seven years, Yas Rana runs the rule on the 12 players who turned out for England in their 1-0 loss to New Zealand.
Rory Burns: 8/10
238 runs @ 59.50, one hundred, one fifty; HS: 132
By some distance the standout England batsman. Coming into the series in good form, Burns looked as in control as he’s ever done in England whites.
Dom Sibley: 6/10
103 runs @ 34.33, one fifty; HS: 60*
Unlike his opening partner, Sibley came into the series with very little cricket under his belt after a finger injury punctured his start to the season. His half-century at Lord’s was a welcome return to form and his partnership with Burns at Edgbaston should have laid the platform for a more imposing total.
Zak Crawley: 2/10
21 runs @ 5.25, no fifties; HS: 17
A difficult series for Crawley whose dismissal in the first innings at Edgbaston hinted at a frazzled mind. 12 knocks after his 267, his spot in the side is our under serious threat having passed 20 just once in that period.
Joe Root: 4/10
97 runs @ 24.25, no fifties; HS: 42
One wicket @ 99; BBI: 1-16
A stop-start series with the bat continued what is now quite a long stretch without a dominant home series for the England captain. In a side without a specialist spinner, he bowled without great threat.
Ollie Pope: 4/10
84 runs @ 28, no fifties; HS: 23
A collection of starts without kicking on for the Surrey youngster who has now gone 15 innings without a Test fifty; he looks uncharacteristically frenetic at the crease.
Dan Lawrence: 6/10
81 runs @ 40.50, one fifty: HS: 81*
His excellent 81* was sandwiched by a pair of ducks, both induced by loose shots. That half-century may well have been enough for Lawrence to usurp Pope for the No. 6 spot for the India series when Stokes and Buttler are likely to return. Should probably have bowled more.
James Bracey: 1/10
8 runs @ 2.67, no fifties; HS: 8
A really difficult start to Test cricket for the Gloucestershire youngster. It’s hard to see Bracey keeping for the Test side in the near future but he should still be considered as a top-order option on the back of an excellent start to the year with his county.
Ollie Robinson: 9/10
Seven wickets @ 14.42; BBI: 4-75
Off-field events overshadowed an exceptional debut for the Sussex seamer at Lord’s. Robinson regularly challenged both edges and on that performance – which included a crucial 42 with the bat – he is now a certainty, fitness permitting, to tour Australia this winter.
Mark Wood: 6/10
Six wickets @ 34.16; BBI: 3-81
His spell on the second morning at Lord’s was probably his best on home soil in six years. Contributed important runs in the Edgbaston Test but wasn’t as threatening with the ball as he had been in the series opener.
Stuart Broad 6/10
Six wickets @ 29; BBI: 4-48
Oddly toothless at Lord’s but a totally different beat in the second Test, finishing with excellent figures of 4-48.
James Anderson 4/10
Three wickets @ 68.66; BBI: 2-83
Two quiet Tests for Anderson in a series that saw him become England’s most capped Test cricketer.
Olly Stone 5/10
Three wickets @ 32.22; BBI: 2-92
Unlucky not to have picked up more wickets but served up too many four balls.