England wrapped up a 3-1 ODI series victory over New Zealand at Lord’s today (September 15), in most of their squad’s last practice before heading out to India to begin their final World Cup preparations.
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With all of their preliminary squad in action apart from Mark Wood and Jason Roy, here are England’s marks out of ten for the series.
Jonny Bairstow – 2
3 matches, 19 runs at 6.33, SR: 76.00, HS: 13
Three innings for Bairstow in his return series to ODI cricket and only one of them amounted to double figures. He made a golden duck at The Oval and was out in the first five overs of the game in all three outings. His role allows him to be hit or miss, and this time he missed.
Dawid Malan – 9
3 matches, 277 runs at 92.33, SR: 105.72, HS: 127
Malan hit fifty ot more in all three of his innings in the series. While he narrowly missed out on a century by being dismissed for 94 at The Oval, he capitalised at Lord’s to hit his fifth ODI century. A triumphant series for Malan which should see his World Cup place secured.
Harry Brook – 2.5
3 matches, 37 runs at 12.33, SR: 54.41, HS: 25
Disappointing from Brook. Given the chance to force himself into contention for a last-minute addition to the World Cup squad, the best he could muster was 25 in Cardiff opening alongside Bairstow. Although perhaps that he came in for Ben Stokes at four while Jason Roy remained on the sidelines suggests all is not lost.
Joe Root – 2
4 matches, 39 runs at 9.75, SR: 60.93, HS: 29
A truly dismal series for Root. He played every match of the series and only managed to break into double- igures at Lord’s. His scores before then amounted to ten runs from three innings. Even in his 29 at Lord’s, he looked out of form and still searching for his groove in the format after sporadic appearances over the last few years. That he was dropped twice and scored his runs at less than two every three balls rather than his usual brisk pace is another indicator of that.
Ben Stokes – 8
3 matches, 235 runs at 78.33, SR: 115.76, HS: 182
That record-breaking annihilation at the Oval not only proved for those still in doubt the enormous benefit England will gain from Stokes’ unretirement, but also was a sign of things starting to click back into gear for the team. A fifty at Cardiff also shows Stokes hasn’t lost any of his ODI touch in his year out.
Jos Buttler – 7
4 matches, 176 runs at 44.00, SR: 118.91, HS: 72
Buttler’s 72 at Cardiff was crucial to England setting a respectable target, even if it did still turn out to be well short. Contributions in the following three games were also useful and his work behind the stumps solid. Turning over a deficit in the series is also a good indictment on his leadership, his request for England to go harder with the bat in the third ODI heeded by his side.
Liam Livingstone – 7.5
4 matches, 186 runs at 62.00, SR: 110.05, HS: 95*
4 wickets at 24.25, ER: 4.93, BBI: 3-16
Two consecutive half-centuries are about as consistent as you get from Livingstone. His 95* at Southampton was significant, the only one of England’s batters who was able to stick in and hold the innings together. Four wickets with the ball were also more than useful. Something of a breakthrough series for him in the format.
Moeen Ali – 6
3 matches, 48 runs at 16.00, SR: 100.00, HS: 33
7 wickets at 17.57, ER: 5.85, BBI: 4-50
A decent innings at Southampton was the only real contribution with the bat from Moeen. But, in the absence of Adil Rashid for most of the series, he was excellent with the ball, particularly in the final match.
David Willey – 7.5
3 matches, 5 wickets at 18.80, ER: 5.27, BBI: 3-34
47 runs at 47.00, SR: 195.83, HS: 21*
Coming into the series regarded as the 15th member of England’s World Cup squad, Willey bolstered his account on all fronts. He played some useful cameos with the bat and picked up wickets with the ball. Three wickets and a run-out in Southampton was his best contribution.
Chris Woakes – 7
2 matches, 3 wickets at 19.33, ER: 3.86, BBI: 3-31
Back in ODI colours, Woakes reminded England exactly what they miss when he’s on the injury bench. His overs conceded less than four runs on average and he took three wickets at The Oval, including a perfect set-up to bowl Tom Latham.
Sam Curran – 5
3 matches, 2 wickets at 42.00, ER: 6.30, BBI: 1-21
65 runs at 21.66, SR: 120.37, HS: 42
A 42 coming from Curran, coming in at No.8 in Southampton, was pivotal in extending England’s innings and ensuring Livingstone didn’t run out of partners. He was less effective with the ball, going wicketless on two occasions and only picking up one scalp in the series.
Brydon Carse – 5
1 match, 1 wicket at 53.00, ER: 7.57, BBI: 1-53
The second of England’s non-World Cup squad-members, Carse only came in for the final match of the series. He bowled Daryl Mitchell with his third ball of the series and hit a six off the final ball of England’s batting innings.
Reece Topley – 7
4 matches, 5 wickets at 25.40, ER: 4.70, BBI: 3-27
Very good from Topley. Five wickets in the series at 4.70 an over, the best of England’s left-arm options.
Gus Atkinson – 4
3 matches, 1 wicket at 94.00, ER: 5.52, BBI: 1-23
An anonymous first ODI series for Atkinson ahead of his World Cup berth. The three matches he played yielded only one wicket, and he was more expensive than England’s premier core of seamers.
Adil Rashid – 3
1 match, 1 wicket at 70.00, ER: 8.75, BBI:1-70
One match in the series for Rashid before a niggle kept him out of the final three. He looked short of his best on a flat pitch at Cardiff.