NASSER HUSSAIN’S 4th TEST RATINGS
ALASTAIR COOK 4/10
IT has been very tough for all openers this summer and I did think Cook’s balance was good in the first innings. He plays at the Oval for me and then a decision will have to be made on his future.
KEATON JENNINGS 5
aBSOLUTE jaffa in the first innings and showed incredible mental strength second time round when he was very much drinking in the last chance saloon. Just because I think it is difficult to judge anyone at the top of the order in this series I would also give him the last Test to make a score.
JOE ROOT 7
I THOUGHT his captaincy on day two was as good as I’ve seen him, with the way he used Moeen ali and controlled the run rate when he didn’t have a massive score to play with. Quickly realised the pitch was changing from seam to spin friendly and I liked his little disagreement with Stuart Broad. Don’t really have a problem with him moving to four midmatch. I prefer him at three but if it really makes that much difference to him to bat at four then so be it.
JONNY BAIRSTOW 3
I SaID before the game that England should be careful in taking the gloves off him but the biggest problem here was technical rather than mental. He is staying legside of the ball which is fine in one- day cricket but you can’t show the bowler all your stumps at Test level. He is loose at the moment and has to tighten up if he’s going to remain this high in the order.
BEN STOKES 7
HE IS showing people he can bat in different ways. He did it at Trent Bridge and he did it here on Saturday. OK it was only 30 but his career strike-rate is nearly 60 and in this series it’s been in the 30s which shows that he is reining himself in when he has not been at his most fluent. Reversed the ball impressively yesterday and good to see him back in the slips too.
JOS BUTTLER 8
HIS innings in the second innings was fabulous, just like at Trent Bridge. To show such composure and to show again, like Stokes, how he can play in different ways was top notch. He’s such a bright, thoughtful cricketer and his glovework was pretty good.
MOEEN ALI 9
RUNS in the first innings — when he looked composed and tight in his first game back after a difficult winter — and then bowled brilliantly. Obviously likes this ground and bowling to India here but to out-bowl Ravichandran ashwin on this pitch shows hood good he can be with the ball. Prefers to be the second spinner and I don’t mind that.
SAM CURRAN 8.5
RUNS in both innings again, composed and secure and the guts he is showing is remarkable. Every time he goes in you think he must be due a failure but there haven’t been any so far. Watches the ball right on to the bat, has a good solid defence and has played ashwin as well as anyone, which is quite something when you consider ashwin’s record against left-handers.
ADIL RASHID 4
HaS been something of a passenger in the series because seam has dominated and ali was brilliant here. That’s not his fault but if England go down to one spinner at the Oval he could be the man to miss out, especially if they bring in a No 3 and move Moeen back down to where he was.
STUART BROAD 8
BOWLED well in both innings after that poor start on the first night when he didn’t quite get it right. His spell on the last morning was brilliant when he and Jimmy anderson set the tone for the day.
JIMMY ANDERSON 7
MaYBE not quite at his best in the first innings but the spell he bowled yesterday was excellent. all eyes were on Moeen but you cannot overestimate what the big two did on the third and fourth mornings.