England first Test ratings: Pace duo get top marks but who lands just a 4/10 for moment of madness in victory over Pakistan?
Ben and Baz who? England got Joe Root’s second captaincy era off to a flier with a walloping of Pakistan at Headingley to quash any yearnings for Bazball.
After bowling Pakistan out for 171 in the first innings – with Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson sharing the wickets – they ran up 409 before bowling out the tourists for just 135 in 37.3 overs. So, who were the standout performers and who has work to do under the new/old skipper?
Richard Gibson was at Headingley to run the rule over Root’s team.
Ben Duckett: 4/10
Defeated all ends up by a jag-backer from Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas, and embarrassed himself by a review that showed the ball to be hitting middle stump three-quarters up.
Ben Duckett wasted a review after being given out lbw in England’s only innings
Emilio Gay: 5
Punchy response to a pair against the same opponents in last week’s warm-up fixture, but opener failed to fully cash in on favourable conditions making just 33 and was dismissed just when he was beginning to motor.
Jordan Cox: 7
Essex man played with impressive tempo in an unfamiliar role at No 3, picking off boundaries in clumps, and absorbing pressure when Pakistan bowled well. Out for 73 and will also be disappointed not to go on to a bigger score against a tiring attack.
Jordan Cox played with impressive tempo in an unfamiliar role at No 3 on his way to 73
Joe Root: 8
Took his England record number of Test wins as captain to 28, leading the side decisively in the field either side of a typically authoritative half century. Rotated his bowlers well but hardly had need to flog them either.
Harry Brook: 8
England’s No 4 batted with typical flamboyance, albeit against a poor Pakistan attack, but a lackadaisical moment on 91 cost him a hundred when he was caught in the crease. Caught smartly in the slips.
Dan Lawrence: 6
England were already in credit when the Surrey man arrived at the crease, making this the gentlest of starts for his fourth incarnation as a Test cricketer. Another who will feel he could have gone on to get a three-figure score after falling for 51.
Jamie Smith: 6
A soft dismissal for England’s wicketkeeper, although excusable given he was left to bat with the tail. Glovework was sound, including during sustained spells stood up to the stumps.
Jamie Smith kept well – and was particularly impressive standing up to the stumps to Ollie Robinson’s seam bowling
Gus Atkinson: 6
Paceman didn’t strike until the penultimate dismissal of the match, but generally kept things tight as the others in the four-pronged seam attack reaped the rewards. Figures of 1-51 probably don’t do him justice.
Ollie Robinson: 9
Set the tone with a wicket from the first ball of his return and didn’t let up with his skilful probing, taking eight in a Test for the first time and taking home half the match ball as a memento.
Ollie Robinson set the tone with a wicket from the first ball of his return to the team and didn’t let up with his skilful probing
Jofra Archer: 6.5
England quick began erratically up the hill, lasting just two overs in his first spell on the opening morning, but provided Root with new-ball venom at the start of the second innings when he took two quick wickets.
Josh Tongue: 9
Ran in hard throughout, breaching the 90-mile-per-hour barrier and completed what was his career-best Test haul of eight for 89. Erratic on occasions but when he got it right, it was very right.
PAKISTAN: Azan Awais: 2, Imam-ul-Haq: 6, Shan Masood: 5, Abdullah Shafique: 7, Saud Shakeel: 2, Salman Ali Agha: 3, Mohammad Rizwan: 5, Ali Usman: 7, Khurram Shahzad: 4, Mohammad Ali: 4, Mohammad Abbas: 5.
