Ben Gardner marks the England players out of 10 after their come-from-behind Test series win against West Indies.
Rory Burns – 7
3 Tests, 234 runs @ 46.80, 2 fifties, HS: 90
Quietly ended up second on the run-scorers’ charts, with a succession of starts and two half-centuries in the final game.
Dom Sibley – 7
3 Tests, 226 runs @ 45.20, 2 fifties, 1 100, HS: 120
Every time he went past 0 he went onto 50. His 120 in the first innings of the second Test was a lesson in the old art of leaving, defending and outlasting and ensured West Indies were kept on the back foot after winning the first Test.
Joe Denly – 3
1 Test, 47 runs @ 23.50, HS: 29
Two ball-occupying starts weren’t enough to keep his spot for the Manchester portion of the series. Unlikely to be seen again at Test level.
Zak Crawley – 4
2 Tests, 97 runs @ 24.25, 1 fifty, HS: 76
An attractive 76 was the sole highlight, but also enough to make him England’s first-choice No.3. Still, until he gets a hundred or two he’ll always be the player England leave out when they go funky.
Joe Root – 7
2 Tests, 130 runs @ 43.33, 1 fifty, HS: 68*
Captained astutely, managing the rain and the permutations well and ensuring there was no Southampton hangover. His fleet-footed 68 in the third Test injected life into a stagnating declaration-pursuit and served as a reminder of his heady batting talents.
Ben Stokes – 8
3 Tests, 363 runs @ 90.75, 1 100, 1 fifty, HS: 176, 9 wickets @ 16.33, BBI: 4-49
Had yet another game to rank among the greats in the second Test. Was barely needed in the third, and his 40s and captaincy in the first left you wanting more.
Ollie Pope – 5
3 Tests, 134 runs @ 33.50, 1 fifty, HS: 91
An unusually quiet series until a customarily spunky 91 in the third Test dug England out of a hole. Caught like a dream too.
Jos Buttler – 5
3 Tests, 151 runs @ 30.20, 1 fifty, HS: 67, 12 catches
Still fighting for his place despite a decent series. The nature of the No.7 role means sometimes a cameo will be all he can muster, and he played nicely in the first and second Tests before a useful half-century in the final Test in the No.6 role in which he is more comfortable.
Dom Bess – 4
3 Tests, 5 wickets @ 41.60, BBI: 2-51, 83 runs @ 83, HS: 31*
A couple of useful hands with the bat and some capable spells with the ball, but largely reduced to a bit-part role due to England’s bevy of options and the unhelpful conditions.
Jofra Archer – 3
2 Tests, 4 wickets @ 50.50, BBI: 3-45, 26 runs @ 8.66
A brilliant spell on the fifth morning at Southampton was the only real highlight of a series in which his career took its most significant step back yet due to his Hove detour. Chris Woakes’ excellence means his presence in England’s first-choice attack is no longer assured.
Chris Woakes – 8
2 Tests, 11 wickets @ 16.63, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-50, 1 run @ 0.50
More unheralded home brilliance from England’s Mr. Reliable. A series-winning five-for was no less than he deserved for his relentless, incisive work. His batting has tailed off, however, and he now looks a place high when at No.7.
Stuart Broad – 9
2 Tests, 16 wickets @ 10.93, 1 five-for, BBI: 6-31, 73 runs @ 73
From being on the fringes of England’s long-term plans at the start of the series, Stuart Broad has once again cemented himself right at the heart of this team with his full length and ever-expanding cricket brain. There are hints with the bat that some of the swashbuckler of old is returning too.
James Anderson – 5
2 Tests, 5 wickets @ 30.00, BBI: 3-62, 25 runs @ 12.50
Subdued. He got through it though, which is encouraging in itself considering his injury record.
Mark Wood – 3
1 Test, 2 wickets @ 55.00, BBI: 1-36, 7 runs @ 3.50
Failed to improve on his poor home record, despite his newly extended run-up. It’s hard to argue he’s in England’s best attack in England.
Sam Curran – 5
1 Test, 3 wickets @ 33.33, 17 runs @ 17
As ever, made things happen, though Ben Stokes bestrode the second Test to such an extent that it’s hard to recall what they were.
