Jennings and Jos point the way forward
ALASTAIR COOK 5 His batting was decent in the first innings, he tried to set the tone by attacking but it was the third and fourth times he’s fallen to Ravindra Jadeja in this series. Cook also has to take some responsibility for the selection: it was wrong. Only he knows if he has the energy and will to drive this side forward. KEATON JENNINGS 8 I can’t tell you how difficult it must be to get a hundred in your first day of Test cricket against India’s bowlers in their conditions. His batting against spin was a concern but he played beautifully. Then in the second innings, when he fell first ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he found out that cricket’s a great leveller. JOE ROOT 7.5 His second-innings 77 was one of the best innings I’ve seen from him, given the conditions and context. His risk assessment and tempo was spot on. All he needs is one big hundred in Chennai, then he’ll have ticked every box. But he dropped a vital slip catch off Jayant Yadav on eight. MOEEN ALI 5 He still doesn’t have the right balance between attack and defence. If he’s going to bat at No 4, he needs to look at someone like Root. He’s not the first tourist to be outbowled by India’s spinners and he won’t be the last. He doesn’t deceive batsmen in the air as much as they do and he was a touch short in the first innings. JONNY BAIRSTOW 6 Apart from a crucial missed stumping off Murali Vijay — when he didn’t pick Adil Rashid’s googly — he kept well on a difficult pitch. Like Root, he played really well after a difficult start, and got balance just right. Continues his good form. England’s middle-order Mr Consistent. BEN STOKES 5 Underbowled as a result of England using four seamers. Incredibly unlucky to be caught off his boot in second innings — that happens once in a batsman’s career. If England are going with two slips to the new ball, he should be one of them. JOS BUTTLER 7 Got a magnificent 70 in first innings when it had already started to spin. I was pleased he didn’t give it away on the final morning while others were playing loose shots. CHRIS WOAKES 4 Also underbowled: just 16 overs out of 182. Why did Jake Ball bowl more than him? I was disappointed with his shot on the last morning. When you’re facing an off- spinner with turn and bounce, one basic rule is not to play the big expansive cover drive. ADIL RASHID 6 He got four wickets, but the figures flattered him. The pressure got to him a bit. England had runs on the board and he did not deliver, which he has done when the pitch is doing less but not as much is expected of him. JAKE BALL 6.5 Getting runs at No 10 against Ravi Ashwin and Jadeja takes some doing, and he bowled Cheteshwar Pujara on the third morning. Should learn from Stuart Broad about how to bowl cutters — it’s a skill he’ll need to develop. JAMES ANDERSON 5 Like all seamers, wasn’t used as much as he should have been. Would have removed Yadav cheaply if Root had held on, and I had no problem with what he said about Kohli. It didn’t feel like criticism to me: even Kohli must know he needs to make runs in England to be considered a truly great player. MURALI VIJAY 8.5 A brilliant hundred. He needed to deliver, but very pleasing on the eye when he gets runs. KL RAHUL 5 A loose shot to get bowled through the gate driving at Moeen. CHETESHWAR PUJARA 7 He’ll be disappointed with a soft dismissal. It looked as if England weren’t going to get him out. VIRAT KOHLI 9.5 One of the best double hundreds I’ve seen, on a ground that’s witnessed great players — but still not patient enough as captain. KARUN NAIR 4 Not convinced. Doesn’t look that comfortable against spin. PARTHIV PATEL 5 Some good work with the gloves, some not so good. Like Anderson, he suffered from being honest in a press conference. RAVI ASHWIN 9.5 Brilliant. He deceived batsmen before the ball landed — his greatest skill. The way he set up Bairstow on the last morning was remarkable: three off-breaks, then the carrom ball. RAVINDRA JADEJA 8.5 Some of his bowling to Root on the fourth evening was nigh on unplayable. When he bowls it at pace on a pitch that’s disintegrating he reminds me of Derek Underwood. JAYANT YADAV 9 Century at No 9 and got Root out again. A wonderful find. BHUVNESHWAR 7 KUMAR When he found a bit of swing, he got the key wicket of Jennings. UMESH YADAV 7 Didn’t do anything wrong in conditions that did not suit him.