England failed to win their fifth Test series in a row, going down 1-0 to West Indies after a 10-wicket loss at Grenada. Here is a set of player ratings for the 13 players who made an appearance for England across the tour.
Alex Lees: 4/10
126 runs @ 21, HS: 31
Lees faced the second-most deliveries by an England batter on the tour and saw off the initial threat of the new ball in the last two Tests. However, he was unable to make the most of his starts with a top score of just 31.
Zak Crawley: 4.5/10
184 runs @ 30.66, HS: 121
Crawley scored a hundred in the first Test but had an otherwise difficult tour. After 21 Tests, his average still lingers below 30.
Joe Root: 7.5/10
289 runs @ 48.16, HS: 153
With two hundreds in the series Root continued his stellar run with the bat. But another series defeat re-opens questions about his suitability to continue as captain. England were notably lacking in imagination on the third morning in Grenada.
Dan Lawrence: 5.5/10
197 runs @ 32.83, HS: 91
2 wickets @ 32, BBI: 1-0
A good first two Tests on the flatter tracks provided in Antigua and Barbados, Lawrence batted with enterprise as England set up declarations in the opening two Tests. He gifted his wicket away on the first evening in Barbados when he was on the verge of a maiden Test hundred.
Ben Stokes: 7/10
194 runs @ 32.33, HS: 120
7 wickets @ 26.85, BBI: 2-42
He scored a magical hundred in Barbados and did well with the ball after a difficult Ashes series. Despite doubts over his fitness coming into the series, he sent down the most overs by an English seamer in the series. While his return to form with the bat in Barbados was heartening, he was part of both collapses in Grenada.
Jonny Bairstow: 7/10
226 runs @ 45.20, HS: 140
Bairstow scored a fine hundred in the first Test, preventing what at the time looked like a Test-losing collapse on the first morning. His next three innings occurred as England looked to push on and like Lawrence and Stokes, he was part of the pair of collapses in Grenada.
Ben Foakes: 2/10
96 runs @ 19.20, HS: 42
Foakes looked good in the first innings in Antigua but that was as good as his series got with the bat. His run out in the second innings at Grenada was a low point for England this series and his keeping wasn’t as tidy as we’d usually expect.
Chris Woakes: 4/10
140 runs @ 35, HS: 41
5 wickets @ 48.80, BBI: 3-59
He was asked to take the new ball in the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, but was unable to recreate the magic that he so often produces at home. He was decent with the bat down the order, but his bowling was neither accurate nor penetrating enough for the conditions on offer.
Craig Overton: 3/10
4 wickets @ 47.25, BBI: 2-81
Interestingly for a bowler of his style, Overton was the most expensive England seamer on the tour. It is hard to see him becoming a regular fixture in this England side in overseas conditions.
Jack Leach: 6.5/10
11 wickets @ 30.81, BBI: 3-36
Leach was extremely reliable across the tour, especially so at Barbados where he sent down the most overs in a Test by an Englishman in over 50 years. While he was certainly dependable, he was arguably short on threat. Contributed with a crucial knock down the order in the first innings of the third Test.
Mark Wood: 5/10
1 wicket @ 45, BBI: 1-45
Mark Wood’s series was cut short after he had to undergo surgery after bowling in just one innings.
Matt Fisher: 5/10
1 wicket @ 71, BBI: 1-67
Fisher made his debut on a wicket that hardly had anything to offer in Barbados, and was not retained for the series finale.
Saqib Mahmood: 8/10
6 wickets @ 22.83, BBI: 2-21
Mahmood tops both the batting and bowling averages for his team and proved to be one of few bright sparks for England across the tour. He was quick, found reverse swing and he should be persisted with.
