England Player Ratings: Pakistan Test Series Concludes with Mixed Fortunes
England’s Test summer against Pakistan drew to a close with a series victory, but the individual performances painted a varied picture for the selectors ahead of a pivotal winter tour to South Africa. While the bowlers dominated the headlines, the batting unit left several questions unanswered.
Top Order Struggles Cast Shadows
Ben Duckett endured a miserable end to the summer, scoring just 11 and zero in the final match. The opener finishes the three-Test series well down the averages with a disappointing 44 runs at 8.8, leaving him under significant scrutiny. His series rating stands at 2.
Emilio Gay showed flashes of resilience with a gritty Test-best 60 in tricky batting conditions during the first innings, a knock that appeared to strengthen his case for the South Africa tour. However, a duck in the second innings reintroduced uncertainty over his place on the plane. He receives a 6 for the match and a 6 for the series.
Middle Order Anchors the Chase
Joe Root guided England over the line with an unbeaten 62 not out, though questions lingered over his captaincy during Pakistan’s second innings. A concerning trend emerged for England’s all-time leading run-scorer: a 10th lbw dismissal in 14 innings suggests a technical issue that still needs ironing out. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 7.
Harry Brook delivered what was described as his most mature Test knock this year, batting with real discipline and focus when Pakistan had a foothold on day one. He fell short of a century, running himself out on 75, but the application shown earlier made it a forgivable error. Brook finishes as the leading run-scorer in the series with 215 runs at 53.75. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 8.
Dan Lawrence continued his impressive form, batting with the kind of confidence suggesting he deserves a sustained run in the middle order. His measured 65 came despite being shunted around the order, and a not-too-shabby batting average of 46.75 will bolster his winter touring prospects. His bowling remained underused. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 7.
Wicketkeeping Dilemma Emerges
Jordan Cox seized his opportunity following Jamie Smith’s injury. After a cheap first-innings dismissal, he produced a nerveless unbeaten 59 to take the sting out of Pakistan’s chase. Perhaps more impressively, he effected five dismissals with the gloves, giving the selectors serious food for thought regarding the wicketkeeping role. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 7.
Jamie Smith was not quite back to his fluent best but will be satisfied with useful half-centuries in consecutive Tests. He kept reasonably well in Pakistan’s first innings before a finger injury sidelined him for the second. Match rating: 6; Series rating: 6.
Bowling Attack Sets the Tone
Ollie Robinson produced another masterclass in control with the Dukes ball, prompting the question: Is there anyone better with a Dukes ball in English conditions? England’s tone-setter finishes the series with a staggering 21 wickets at a miserly 8.76. A breezy half-century on day two also entertained the crowd. Match rating: 8; Series rating: 9.
Jofra Archer bowled with plenty of zip and aggression throughout, though he took a bit of tap in the second innings. A brutal delivery to dismiss Saud Shakeel served as a reminder of his menace. England will be desperate to keep him fit and firing during a pivotal 12 months. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 8.
Josh Tongue mopped up the tourists’ lower order in the first innings with figures of 4-42. Healthy returns in all three Tests — 19 wickets in all — confirm he continues to look a vital cog in the machine. Match rating: 7; Series rating: 8.
Gus Atkinson was wicketless in the first innings and it initially looked like another hard-luck tale. However, he shook off the weariness and a change to the City End allowed him to pocket three wickets to lighten his mood. Match rating: 6; Series rating: 5.
