England’s turbulent T20I form continued with a third successive series defeat, this time at the hands of South Africa. Here’s how the 12 players used by England fared across the series:
Jason Roy: 2/10
45 runs @ 15, SR: 81.81, No fifties, HS: 20
A miserable series for Roy who just couldn’t get going at any point. Scores of 20 (22) and 17 (18) in big run chases showed the extent of his current struggles. There’s not long until the T20 World Cup and while Roy will most likely be persisted with – due to his achievements over the years – a poor tournament in Australia may well mark the end of his run as a first-choice opener.
Jos Buttler: 5/10
65 runs @ 21.66, SR: 209.67, No fifties, HS: 29
Another series defeat for Buttler as full-time limited overs captain. He helped his side get off to a couple of fliers but didn’t make the most of those starts. The Buttler era has not started well.
Dawid Malan: 5/10
55 runs @ 18.33, SR: 144.73, No fifties, HS: 43
Malan started the series well, racing to a 23-ball 43 at Bristol but then fell cheaply in the run-chases at Cardiff and Southampton.
Jonny Bairstow: 8/10
147 runs @ 49, SR: 141.34, One fifty, HS: 90
England’s standout batter. He was at his brutal best alongside Moeen Ali at Bristol and made starts in the following two fixtures, running out of established partners at Southampton.
Moeen Ali: 7/10
83 runs @ 27.67; SR: 207.50; One fifty, HS: 52
Three wickets @ 16, BBI: 1-4, ER: 9.60
His partnership with Bairstow at Bristol was the highlight of the series from an English perspective. Moeen was curiously under-bowled, delivering just five overs across the series as England struggled for middle-over wickets.
Liam Livingstone: 2/10
26 runs @ 8.66, SR: 123.80, No fifties, HS: 18
Did not bowl
A quiet series for Livingstone, who averages less than 15 with the bat in T20I cricket from nine games in 2022.
Sam Curran: 4/10
12 runs @ 6.00, SR: 100, No fifties, HS: 9
No wickets, ER: 9.36
There were periods during the series when Curran bowled well and briefly stemmed the flow of runs. But he lacked the incision that his South Africa counterparts exhibited. He came in when England were well behind the rate in the last two games of the series only to fall cheaply on both occasions.
Adil Rashid: 4/10
Two wickets at 44, BBI: 2-17, ER: 9.77
England lacked penetration in the middle overs across the series and that was, in part, due to Rashid enduring a relatively quiet series.
Chris Jordan: 6/10
Two wickets @ 62.50; BBI: 1-43, ER: 10.41
A series that summed up Jordan as a T20I bowler well. Jordan utilises the yorker considerably more often than most modern T20 quicks and when he gets it right – like he did at the end of the South Africa innings at Cardiff – it’s brilliant. But when he just misses his ideal length, as he did at times at the Ageas Bowl, he can go the distance. It’s been a much improved summer for Jordan after a difficult winter, but there is still the sense that for a bowler who can regularly touch 90mph and who possesses an effective slower ball, he is over-reliant on the yorker.
Reece Topley: 7/10
Two wickets @ 52.00, BBI: 2-29, ER: 8.66
The most economical of the England bowlers to feature in all three games. Topley – while only taking two wickets across the series – was relatively frugal in the first two matches in particular. In England’s win at Bristol, Topley removed both Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw with the new ball to take the sting out of the run chase. Topley went at over 11 runs per over in the series finale.
Richard Gleeson: 4/10
Four wickets @ 22.25, BBI: 3-51, ER: 12.71
Gleeson bowled with impressive pace but was extremely expensive in the first two games of the series, both high-scoring affairs on small grounds. His pace will trouble even the very best but he could perhaps do with more versatility in the middle overs.
David Willey: 8/10
Three wickets @ 8.33, BBI 3-25, ER: 6.25
Willey only appeared in the series decider at the Ageas Bowl but put in a very good account of himself. He removed the dangerous de Kock with the new ball and was subsequently entrusted with three overs up top. His sole over at the death – the last of the South Africa innings – was also decent.