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Ten years ago, the contemplation within the English selection panel was whether Ian Bell, averaging over 42 at the time, merited his place.
Fast forward a decade and if there was a county batter averaging anywhere close to 40, they would have already played a hatful of Tests.
Another series loss and now only one Test win notched up in their last 12 matches, there are more questions than answers for whoever takes on senior roles in the red-ball set-up. For now, there are nine weeks for players to wait before taking on New Zealand in the first Test of the summer, starting 2 June.
With those who have just ended the tour of West Indies heading either home to the County grind or to India for the IPL, we reflect on individual displays and assess their performances throughout the three matches, providing an overall rating out of ten.
Zak Crawley (184 runs @ 30.66, HS: 121) 6
In Crawley’s short international stint, two innings have carried his stay and this series highlighted that further. Hitting a fantastic hundred in the second Test as opposed to the first and third where we saw the vulnerability around the off stump, attempting booming drives on the up with his hands far in front of his head.
Whilst high-risk shots may be pretty on the eye when they come off, given the fragility in the England top-order, this approach has seen more noughts than 50’s.
Given the winter-axing of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, combined with the young Kent batter hitting three figures during the series, it would be highly likely that the 24-year-old is to be opening at the start of the Test summer.
Alex Lees (126 runs @ 21.00, HS: 31) 7
Almost towards the other end of the spectrum to Crawley, Alex Lees found himself making starts. Without pulling up any trees, the left-hander showed glimpses of promise.
Despite being a limited batter, Lees demonstrated that even at the highest level that is not a drawback. Relying on four shots to produce the lion-share of his runs, the 28-year-old accumulated well and learned from his first display, having his front pad blown away by Kemar Roach. This saw the Durham captain tighten up his defence and stick to doing the basics well, playing the percentages.
Whilst limited may not seem the kindest word, Sir Alastair Cook made a career of playing this way and should be a shining example of how to trust his game, to get his rewards.
Joe Root (289 runs @ 48.16, HS: 153; 1 wicket) 7
If these three Tests should be Root’s last as captain, he can pass over the reins with his head held high, knowing he has taken his side as far as he can. Root has never been the most tactically astute leader of his country, but he has never had a settled side either which can see slack come in his direction.
Batting-wise, Root has again had to carry the top-order on his shoulders. Scoring two hundreds from his first four innings the talisman led from the front, scoring the bulk of his runs on two pretty placid wickets.
In the final match Root notched up two failures, and his importance to the side was obvious how his top-order compatriots proceeded to score just 137 in two innings, with Lees scoring 62 of them alone. Minus Root, the top-order more resembles lambs than lions.
Dan Lawrence (197 runs @ 32.83, HS: 91; 2 wickets) 7
Having had a front row seat to the winter Ashes capitulation, Lawrence has demonstrated his talents but like batters before him in the line-up, the same frailties came to light. Despite getting a couple of starts, it was his display in the final Test that summed up England’s current predicament.
Having batted selflessly in the first two matches of the series, taking advantage of favourable conditions to give his team a strong advantage, Lawrence formed two excellent partnerships alongside both his Captain and Ben Stokes respectively.
Lawrence quickly developed a happy knack of being England’s go-to at the end of each day in an attempt to buy a wicket, and twice it worked. With his bowling action that only a mother could love, the Essex man imparts a decent amount of turn on the ball, and with a little bit more practice and coaching, there could well be more than just a ‘golden arm’ in his skillset.
It is almost certain that Lawrence will feature in future England tours and those in charge at the ECB hope this will be an experience to learn from and improve.
Jonny Bairstow (226 runs @ 45.20, HS: 140) 8
A real tenacious and emotional cricketer, there was not anything learnt during this Test series that was not already known about Bairstow. Played as the number six batter without wicket-keeping duties, he flourished in his duties and will hope that this good form can continue.
His place is almost cemented ahead of the upcoming summer matches, only injury setbacks or a new coach looking elsewhere could see the Yorkshireman miss out.
Ben Stokes (194 runs @ 32.33, HS: 120; 7 wickets @ 26.86) 7
Having suffered injury setbacks that saw him openly admit he was not at full-fitness during the Ashes and hampered by his Captain’s choice to utilise his bowling more as a battering ram than as a seamer, the aim would have been for Stokes to take a backseat on bowling.
All strategies are excellent in the planning, but in reality, the superstar all-rounder bowled 99 overs and at no point were any of Stokes’ efforts completed in anything other than fifth gear.
Should Stokes want it, there could well be a leadership promotion opportunity for him as Root could very easily vacate the Captaincy, leaving the role to his vice captain, the only player who played in the last Test with previous International leadership experience.
Ben Foakes (96 runs @ 19.20, HS: 42) 5
Far from blemish-free, Foakes’ glovemanship has never been in question, but given the high-pedestal in which he holds himself by, there were a couple of mistakes in terms of two dropped catches, two missed stumpings and a number of byes, although the inconsistent bounce is attributed to many of the extras.
While with the bat, his opposite number Joshua Da Silva, demonstrated exactly how to perform and both are incredibly similar players. One scored a century whilst the other, in an attempt to recover a batting collapse, inexplicably ran himself out and expose the batters below him.
Batting at seven may be a place too high, but in an already weak batting line-up, can they afford to play their keeper a place lower than normal?
Chris Woakes (140 runs @ 35.00, HS: 44; 5 wickets @ 48.80) 5
Although both pitches for the first two matches offered no favours to any bowlers, Woakes was asked to lead the attack given the absence of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Having done so without any fuss or complaints, you never hear anything in the media from Cricket’s ultimate “good guy”.
Woakes should be a shoe-in to perform in home conditions, but overseas with the Kookaburra ball his skillset is dramatically hampered. What the future holds for Woakes in future tours remains to be seen.
Mark Wood (1 wicket @ 45.00) n/a
Only able to bowl in the first innings of the first Test before suffering an injury.
Craig Overton (4 wickets @ 25.54) 5
The England hierarchy seem to have a keen eye on the 27-year-old given his selection in all three matches and whilst he may not boast high-pace, there is potential in the medium-fast bowler.
Overton tended to bowl too-short and too-wide with the new ball in all three matches and should he wish to have a longer career at the highest level, this will have to be tightened up and bowl more balls hitting off-stump or in the channel just outside.
Saqib Mahmood (13 wickets @ 26.30) 9
England’s brightest discovery of the tour. Bowling with both discipline and pace, Mahmood showed to all exactly what they had all been hoping for. Considering the unhelpful nature of the wickets, his ability to pick up 13 wickets and only go at an economy rate of just 2.24 saw his control excellently displayed.
Even with the wickets being unresponsive, the 25-year-old found reverse-swing and whilst he may not hit the extreme 150kph+ pace-heights of Wood, Jofra Archer and Olly Stone, he still was the quickest of all the others on show.
The Lancastrian may not have played had it not been for Wood’s injury in the first match, but the ECB will be extremely happy having unearthed a talent that should see him remain in the squad for years to come.
Matthew Fisher (1 wicket @ 71.00) 6
A little unlucky to only play one match in the end, having been drafted in for the second game following Overton pulling up the night before. Fisher showed he has the talent and with his second ball captured his first and only wicket to date.
Capable of bowling a nagging line and length, his skillset may well be suited to playing in home conditions but a promising start to an international career none the less.
Jack Leach (11 wickets @ 30.81) 6
Having been used awfully in Australia, it was as though the Somerset spinner had finally won the trust of his Captain. Having played in all three matches and bowled over 180 overs in the process, he was given a fair chance to earn victories for his side.
However, the first Test saw absolutely no assistance to the spinner at all and in the second match, where Leach garnered significant spin, he was repelled by an obdurate and superior batter in the form of West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
His weaknesses were that he previously would bowl one long-hop or full-toss an over, but Leach cleaned this up tremendously throughout the series and at one point in the second match produced a spell of nine straight maidens, giving the batters nothing to capitalise on.
With a winter tour to Pakistan at the end of the calendar year and the pitches notorious for favouring spin over seam, he will be hoping to produce a steady summer for his Country to earn him his chances on the more-assistive wickets heading their way.
Unused players: Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Matt Parkinson.
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