Ben Gardner rates the England players out of 10 after their historic Test series whitewash over Pakistan in Pakistan.
England beat Pakistan 3-0 in Pakistan, the first ever Test series whitewash inflicted on them in the country. The tourists dominated throughout, securing the first Test on a flat wicket with a daring, all-out attack gameplan, before adapting their style for two more spin-friendly wickets in the next two games.
They have now won nine of their 10 Tests under Ben Stokes’ full-time Test captaincy, with this perhaps their boldest statement yet.
Player ratings for England in the Pakistan Test series
Harry Brook – 10
3 Tests, 468 runs at 93.60, 3 100s, 1 50, HS: 153
Essentially flawless. At Rawalpindi he showed he belonged, claiming England’s record for the most runs in a Test over twice in two days, but it was on more spin-friendly surfaces in the next two games that he really stood out. Failed just once, in the first innings at Multan, and responded with possibly his best innings of the series to turn a tight game their way. A series performance to rank among any in Test history.
Joe Root – 4
3 Tests, 125 runs at 25.00, 1 50, HS: 73; 5 wickets at 39.20, BBI: 2-23
A series whitewash in Pakistan, and Root averaged just 25. What a world. Bowled well, and gets credit for his head-rubbing left-handed absurdities at Rawalpindi.
Ben Duckett – 8.5
3 Tests, 357 runs at 71.40, 1 100, 3 50s, HS: 107
A master of the sweep shot, Duckett’s first-day century at Rawalpindi got lost in the maelstrom, but three more fifties showed his method could succeed on more than just flat pitches. He will be personally frustrated not to turn another of his four fifty-plus scores into a hundred, knowing how quickly these opportunities can be taken away, but he deserves a chance to show he’s more than a spin specialist.
Ben Foakes – 8.5
1 Test, 64 runs at 64, 1 50, HS: 64
Kept excellently, including an athletic round-the-stumps run-out of Babar Azam that turned the first innings, and batted in his own manner to put England in the ascendancy.
Ollie Pope – 7
3 Tests, 238 runs at 47.60, 1 100, 2 50s, HS: 108
One of the many to make a blistering hundred at Rawalpindi, and contributed two more energetic half-centuries. Gamely juggled his keeping and batting responsibilities, albeit with mixed results.
Zak Crawley – 5
3 Tests, 235 runs at 39.16, 1 100, 1 50, HS: 122
Showed his flat-pitch flawlessness at Rawalpindi with a century and a fifty, but struggled at the hint of any sideways movement, with Abrar Ahmed befuddling him consistently.
Ben Stokes – 8
3 Tests, 173 runs at 34.60, HS: 41; 1 wicket at 124, BBI: 1-69
No half-centuries with the bat and just the one wicket – albeit a key breakthrough on the fourth evening at Rawalpindi – but Stokes earns his grade for his captaincy. The gameplan in the first Test was breathtakingly daring and perfectly executed, and it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that no other side in history, and no other captain, could have won the game in that manner, while the confidence he has instilled bled through in the next two Tests too.
Rehan Ahmed – 8.5
1 Test, 7 wickets at 19.57, BBI: 5-48
The dream debut, turning the third Test in England’s direction as it was drifting away. One for the present as well as the future.
James Anderson – 9
2 Tests, 8 wickets at 18.50, BBI: 4-36
Bowled with freakish accuracy at Rawalpindi in a run-fest before coming into the game explosively on the final evening, and contributed another three scalps in Multan. Staggeringly, in the last decade, he averages less in Asia than at home.
Ollie Robinson – 9
3 Tests, 9 wickets at 21.22, BBI: 4-50
Those fitness concerns seem a long time ago, as do any fears that Robinson would be reliant on a Dukes ball and some grass in the wicket for success. Was deservedly Player of the Match in the opener and dismissed Babar twice at Multan.
Mark Wood – 8.5
2 Tests, 8 wickets at 20.37, BBI: 4-65
Broke the game open at Multan just as the chase was heading Pakistan’s way, and prised out Shan Masood at Karachi. Bowled as quickly as ever.
Jack Leach – 6.5
3 Tests, 15 wickets at 44.60, BBI: 4-98
A curious series. England’s leading wicket taker by a distance, and the leading wicket taker in the world in 2022, but also second bottom of the average and economy charts. His three-wicket burst on the second morning at Karachi was vintage left-arm spin bowling, but the exploits of the younger spinning debutants will have him looking over his shoulder.
Will Jacks – 6.5
2 Tests, 6 wickets at 38.66, BBI: 6-161; 89 runs at 22.25, HS: 31
Those six wickets in the first innings at Rawalpindi were his only scalps of the series, with Root often preferred to him in the second Test, and he showed only glimpses of his potential with the bat in limited opportunities.
Liam Livingstone – N/A
1 Test, 16 runs at 8.00, HS: 9
Injured early on in his Test debut. Given the success of Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, and the demands of his white-ball schedule, there’s a possibility Livingstone never plays again.
