England Series Ratings vs Pakistan
After coming to the UAE with hope of being the first side to down Pakistan in their adopted home, England came up short. A spirited display in Abu Dhabi, in which Alastair Cook’s men came within a few overs of victory, was followed by damaging defeats in Dubai and Sharjah. Middle order collapses in both of those Tests proved to be the determining factor in most of England’s good work being undone as the away side left empty handed despite some encouraging displays. Here are the England player ratings for the Test series against Pakistan.
Alastair Cook — 9/10
A very efficient series for the England captain. 450 runs at an average of 90 is an excellent return for a man who is becoming a specialist in subcontinent batting. Aside from his outstanding 263 in Abu Dhabi, which clawed his side back into a game which they almost won, Cook has given his side good starts in three of his four other innings in the series. Consistency has often been a problem for Cook but he was virtually impregnable, as he so often is in these conditions.
Moeen Ali — 4/10
The experiment of moving Ali to the top of the order did not come off. He got off to good starts in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah but could not capitalise and turn it into something substantial, often due to reckless shots. It seems that England will move him back down to no.8 for the tour of South Africa, where he has the license to play with much more freedom.
His bowling was inconsistent, much like the the other two spinners in the side, but he did pick up nine wickets. His strike rate so far in his career is among the best of any England spinner to take more than fifty wickets. However, his average of 48.66 runs conceded per wicket is the highest among the top wicket takers in the series, an area Moeen will have to improve on to be a consistent spinner for England in the future.
Ian Bell — 5/10
Not a prolific series for Bell in conditions that clearly are not his favourite. He battled hard, though, and was willing to grind it out when not at his fluent best, which is a good sign. His place at no.3 looks safe for now and he should expect more success in South Africa, where pitches will suit his drives and cuts — aspects so key to his stroke play. Although he is not in form, his experience and class are still vital to England.
Joe Root — 7/10
Root was very impressive during the first two Tests, looking solid and positive against the Pakistani trail of spin. He would have been disappointed not to go on to get hundreds there for the taking after showing his class with three fifties in his first four innings. Root’s footwork is an admirable part of his game and teams are still to find out his real weakness. A pair of low scores in Sharjah partly mean that England’s quest for a series-levelling victory was a step too far. It was a disappointing end to a good tour for the world’s current no.1 batsman.
James Taylor — 6/10
Taylor combined a mature approach to his excellent footwork during his first innings of 76 in Sharjah, after waiting since 2012 for his next Test call-up. He gave England a healthy first innings lead but was part of another devastating second innings collapse that cost England the game, much like in Dubai. Taylor was unlucky not to be picked in the first two Tests, given his skill against spin, but he has surely done enough to be starting the first Test in Durban against South Africa.
Jonny Bairstow — 5/10
After a disappointing first Test, Bairstow showed promise and fought hard against the Pakistan spinners, who tied him down admirably. However, he failed to register a fifty in the series and an average of 22.33 doesn’t make good reading for a man who was so prolific for Yorkshire in the County Championship over the summer.
Like Bell, South African pitches should be more suited to Bairstow’s attacking stroke play and he will be looking to make his his first real impact as an England batsman in Tests since that sparkling 95 he made against the Proteas at Lord’s over three years ago.
He looked tidy with the gloves, apart from the crucial missed stumping of Mohammad Hafeez in the second innings, who went on to make 151. It looks like a straight shoot-out between him and Buttler for the keeper’s slot in South Africa.
Ben Stokes — 5/10
Much like most of of the England batsmen, Stokes didn’t look very comfortable against spin and only hit 88 runs in the series at an average of 14.66, despite a bright fifty in Abu Dhabi. He bowled his heart out during the series and proved a valuable asset as a fourth seamer, as well as producing more moments of brilliance in the field to enhance his reputation as England’s leading fielder. Stokes suffered a bad looking collarbone injury in Sharjah that restricted him for most of the Test. England will hope he is fit for Durban as he is a huge part of their line-up.
Samit Patel — 5/10
Offered the chance to play as England’s third spinner in Sharjah, Patel found good turn on day one and bowled the most overs, picking up 2-85. He produced the odd magic delivery but could not hold up an end to put pressure on the Pakistan batsmen. It was a similar story in the second innings, as he bowled a beauty to beat the dangerous Sarfraz Ahmed but ended up going for more than four runs an over. He batted nicely for 42 in his first Test innings since 2012 and got England to an adequate lead, yet fell first ball in the second innings collapse. He looked a decent option as an all-rounder, however.
Jos Buttler — 3/10
Buttler’s poor form with the bat — 34 runs in four innings at an average of 8.50 — lead to him being dropped from the side for the final game in Sharjah. He struggled significantly against the spinners and still looks in two minds as to what his approach shall be in the Test arena. A match-winner on his day, Buttler still has the backing from the selectors and coach Trevor Bayliss to come good and he will seek his way back into the Test squad, which could come sooner rather than later if he regains his touch in the upcoming ODIs in the UAE.
Adil Rashid — 6/10
A very up and down tour for the Yorkshireman. Rashid produced a maiden five wicket haul in the second innings in Abu Dhabi that almost ended up as a match-winning performance, even more admirable considering the fact he went wicketless in the first innings. He even produced a brilliant, defiant knock of 61 from 172 balls in Dubai that came so close to pulling off a thrilling escape for England against the odds on the final day. Rashid proved he will be a very useful player for his country lower down the order. He has a lot of potential and is a player with whom England need to have patience.
Stuart Broad — 7/10
Broad only picked up seven wickets in the series but produced superb control in tough conditions. He bowled with supreme accuracy and stamina to often restrict Pakistan. His opening partnership with Anderson is among the best in the world, even on spinning pitches Broad out-bowled all of the England spinners; he had an economy of 2.07 runs per over, the second best in the series. He appears to have his confidence back with the bat as well, boasting an average of 47.50, and is a dangerous lower-order player once again. A strong tour for the Nottinghamshire man.
Mark Wood — 6/10
Wood slightly struggled with his line and length in Abu Dhabi but produced a much improved performance in Dubai. He bowled with hostility and pace to back up the excellent work of Anderson and Broad. His 3-39 in the first innings was his finest bowling display for England to date on a pitch that was not offering much for the seamers. He missed the last Test as a precaution for his troublesome ankle but will surely start in South Africa as the third paceman. Wood combined with Rashid with the bat to almost save the game for England in Dubai.
James Anderson — 9/10
The standout bowler of the series on either side, although Yasir Shah picked up the most wickets, Anderson’s stats are remarkable in such hot conditions and on placid pitches. The 33-year-old had an economy rate of 1.87, as well as an average of 15.61 — the best in the series by some distance. His skill and fitness in the series is a testament to the world-class bowler he has become. He dried up the runs for Pakistan almost completely when wickets were not on offer and proved that once again he can do just as good a job outside of England as in it. An outstanding display.
