England report cards (out of 10) after Headingley Test win over India – have we been too generous to Ben Duckett and not generous enough to Chris Woakes?
Of the past 10 occasions Ben Stokes has won the toss, England have bowled nine times.
They’ve won seven of those, lost one and drawn once, with two days of a Test at Old Trafford washed out.
It’s clear that the England captain backs his side to chase down big day five targets, and his team has duly repaid his faith in them.
Their 5 wicket win over India in the last hour of the first of a five-match series at Headingley was the latest example of England thriving in their new ‘anti-draw’ game plan.
It was the largest aggregate score for a Test cricket match between the two sides, with the visitors the first nation to lose a Test with five centurions.
Cricket365 have compiled a report card with player ratings for the England side who go 1-0 up in the biggest Test series before the Ashes.
1. Zak Crawley – 6 out of 10
Crawley had a nightmare start to the series, which will either punch or tear up his ticket to Australia later in the year, prodding tentatively at a good ball from high-flying Jasprit Bumrah to be dismissed for four in the first over.
He built a pivotal opening partnership of 188 with Ben Duckett, but never looked entirely comfortable with only 65 of the runs off his bat as the centurion took on the game from the other end.
2. Ben Duckett – 10 out of 10
Perhaps the finest of his six Test centuries, Duckett supplemented 62 in the first innings with a score of 149, which proved decisive in their run chase, getting it off to the perfect start and ultimately making life a little bit less stressful for the middle order.
He seems to be as settled as we’ve seen him opening the batting for England, his bat-on-ball approach should fill us with concern, instead, he makes us optimistic – just what we need ahead of an Ashes series down under.
3. Ollie Pope – 8 out of 10
The vice-captain’s place in the Test side has been the biggest talking point in the build-up to England’s biggest test before the Ashes, with many believing the largely unproven, but undoubtedly talented Jacob Bethell, should have been in the XI.
Pope, who’s century against Zimbabwe likely saved his spot at number three, answered his critics with a classy score of 106 in England’s first innings against India, displaying his ability to build innings with his confidence on the up at just the right time.
4. Joe Root – 7 out of 10
While Root didn’t score a century, something he seems to do every Test match, he was instrumental in getting England over the line in the second innings with his vintage class, helping the middle order get the run chase down with no drama.
He scored 28 in the first innings and it was his unbeaten 53* that brought up the same amount of Test half centuries as the number on his shirt – 66 Test fifties and counting…
5. Harry Brook – 7 out of 10
A promising start quickly turned into a tough Test match for Harry Brook, who scored an impressive yet gutting 99 in the first innings with his classic aggression on full display.
He got out cheaply in the second innings and will be frustrated not to have brought up a ninth Test century.
6. Ben Stokes – 6 out of 10
This score felt harsh when writing it down, but I firmly believe the England captain won’t be happy with his batting performance getting out cheaply in both innings for 20 and 33 after making a start.
He would have loved to have got his side over the line with the bat at Headingley once more, but the first innings of 4-66 as England’s fourth seamer will be reassuring for everyone after his injury woes.
7. Jamie Smith – 7 out of 10
Smith’s maturity at the crease has stood out in his young international career with 40 in the first innings and 44* in the second, while playing a measured innings as the last batter before the tail to get England over the line.
He already averages 45.31, and the sky seems the limit for the wicketkeeper who was equally dependable with the gloves.
8. Chris Woakes – 5 out of 10
The Headingley pitch was a batter’s paradise, and this is never going to suit the plucky bowling of Chris Woakes, who comes into his own in the right overhead conditions and surface.
He hit 38 with the bat to bring up 2000 Test runs but had little to celebrate with the ball, taking just the one wicket in the match.
9. Brydon Carse – 6 out of 10
Claiming the scalps of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as well as KL Rahul in both innings, Carse was among the pick of the bowlers, bowling fast and with tenacity.
He arguably deserved more than his four wickets, but that’s Test cricket; it’s supposed to be tough.
10. Josh Tongue – 7 out of 10
Dubbed ‘The Mop’ by Ben Duckett for his ability to clean up the tail, Tongue just did that, taking seven match wickets, three in an over and decimating the Indian lower order in the first innings.
He looked sharp in his first major test since a long-term injury setback.
11. Shoaib Bashir – 6 out of 10
It was a tough match for Bashir, whose match figures of 3-190 don’t tell the whole story; he held an end for his captain and was persistent on a pitch that didn’t offer him all that much.
It’s clear the powers above trust his potential, and we will see a lot more from Bashir this summer.
Read next: Did Chris Gayle get named in this West Indies’ best Test XI of the past 40 years?
