England continue to have questions over their top order but a few players enhanced their reputations against Sri Lanka
George Dobell14-Jun-20169.5James Anderson (21 wickets at 10.80)After a modest series in South Africa, Anderson was back to something approaching his best in more familiar conditions. Surgical in exploiting helpful conditions in the first three innings of the series, he also impressed in unhelpful conditions in the second innings in Durham. 21 wickets at 10.80 apiece is exceptional by any standards. Indeed, it was the best by an England bowler taking 20 wickets in a series since Derek Underwood claimed 24 at 9.16 in 1969. Had a strong claim to be Man of the Series.7.5Chris Woakes (105 runs at 52.50, 8 wickets at 18.75)Took the opportunity offered by the absence of Stokes with a maiden half-century and eight wickets at an average of 18.75. The quickest member of the England attack, he also demonstrated the control and skill to suggest he could be a useful member – perhaps in a supporting role – of the pack of England pace bowlers. Only Anderson and Angelo Mathews conceded fewer runs per over in the series. Conditions will not always be this helpful, but Woakes did look more comfortable for playing two Tests in succession. A very strong understudy.Jonny Bairstow (387 runs at 129.00, 19 catches)Outstanding with the bat; inconsistent with the gloves. With two centuries and an average of 129, Bairstow helped England rebuild amid those familiar top-order failings and did so at such a pace that it snatched the game away from Sri Lanka and resulted in him winning Man of the Series. A combination of his improvement, the moving ball and the excellence of England’s seamer helped him finish with 19 catches, too – a new record for an England keeper in a three-Test series – but he also missed four chances including a stumping standing-up to the spinner. Bearing in mind England’s schedule in Asia later in the year, that remains a worry. His points were awarded on the basis that he gained 9/10 for his batting and 6/10 for his keeping.Alex Hales (292 runs at 58.40)Solid progress. With three half-centuries in five innings, Hales showed greater assurance around off stump and finished the series as England’s second highest run-scorer. If there were times he took the wrong attacking options against spin, he showed he was learning from his mistakes with his innings of 94 at Lord’s. That maiden century still eludes him, but to have established himself in the side and helped England to a series win still represents a fine start to the international summer.Stuart Broad (12 wickets at 24.58)Bowled well – and sometimes without reward – in a support role. Didn’t quite have the impact of Anderson, but 12 wickets at 24.16 is very good.After passing 10,000 runs, Alastair Cook had his best Test of the series at Lord’s•Getty Images7Alastair Cook (212 runs at 70.66)A couple of not outs – both times with his score in the 40s – boosted Cook’s series average above 70. While that perhaps doesn’t fully reflect some slightly tentative batting in the opening couple of innings, any series which ends in a comfortable victory and sees him pass 10,000 Test runs can only be viewed as a success. He will be tested far more as a captain, but there were signs – not least the declaration at Lord’s and the decision to open the bowling with Woakes at the start of day three in the same match – which showed he is continuing to grow into the leadership.6Steven Finn (seven wickets at 28.14)While not absolutely at his best – he endured a disappointing second innings in Durham, in particular, and his pace is some distance from what it was – Finn still claimed seven wickets at an average of 28.14. Encouragingly, with the wicket at Durham playing ever more slowly, he dismissed a well-set opening batsman (Kashual Silva) with a short ball and seemed to be inching back towards his best at Lord’s. An improving batsman, he faced more balls than Compton or Vince in the series.5.5Moeen Ali (189 runs at 63, two wickets at 90)Contributed his highest Test score to help England to victory in Durham, but bowled only 48 overs and claimed only two wickets in a series dominated by the seamers. Still gives the impression of struggling to adapt to the demands of batting at No. 8 – he was dismissed in the second innings at Lord’s attempting to set-up the declaration and at Headingley with an odd waft – and conceded his runs at a slightly high rate of 3.75 per over.It was an unconvincing start for James Vince but deserves a longer run•Getty Images4.5Joe Root (87 runs at 21.75)With just one half-century in four innings, this was a surprisingly modest series for Root. There is some mitigation: he received an unplayable delivery in the second innings at Lord’s and only batted four times. But he will know he was guilty of a couple of poor strokes – especially in Leeds and Durham – and be frustrated at his failure to convert his 80 in the second Test into a century. Realistically, though, this was probably nothing more than a blip after a prolonged run of outstanding form.2James Vince (54 runs at 13.50)An unconvincing start. Vince averaged just 13.50 and dropped a couple of chances. It is too early to draw conclusions – he has had only four innings, after all – but batting is only likely to grow harder with Pakistan to face next. Bowled in both innings at Lord’s – leaving the ball the second time around – the suspicion is growing that England may have picked the prettiest applicant for the job rather than the best. Deserves a longer run to prove himself, though.Nick Compton (51 runs at 12.75)Given three Tests in which to prove himself, Compton was unable to take advantage and has surely now played the last international cricket of his career. Tentative footwork and hard hands were probably the manifestations of his anxiety but, having failed to reach 30 in his last 10 Test innings (one of which was a not out), he cannot really complain when the axe falls.N/ABen StokesAble to bat just once and bowl only seven overs before injury intervened, Stokes had little chance to make an impact in this series.
