SERIES RATINGS
ENGLAND
ZAK CRAWLEY 6.5 THROWN in at the deep end ahead of schedule after Rory Burns suffered an ankle injury playing football in Cape Town but he has got better with every game. Worked out for himself he had to change technique after the first Test. Has earned his place in Sri Lanka. 163 runs. Average: 32.60. Highest score: 66.
DOM SIBLEY 7
MANY wondered if Sibley could succeed at this level with such a quirky technique but he ends the series as England’s leading runscorer and with a big unbeaten hundred in Cape Town. The jury might still be out but at least they are halfway back through the door. 324 runs. Av: 54.00. HS: 133no. JOE DENLY 6 KEEPS on getting to double figures, slowly, but not kicking on and has technical issues, especially against spin. England will be loath to close the door on him just yet but, averaging 30 in this series and his Test career, he is under big pressure now. 210 runs. Av: 30.00. HS: 50. 2 wkts. Av: 81.00. Best: 2-42.
JOE ROOT 7.5
THE series where, after two and a half years, Root finally arrived as England captain. Has been noticeably more relaxed and pro-active since Centurion and this could be the start of something big with his young side. Still not converting 50s. 317 runs. Av: 45.28. HS: 61. 4 wkts. Av: 47.50. Best: 4-87.
BEN STOKES 9
THE series where comparisons with Sir Ian Botham became real with runs, wickets and catches. Dragged England over the line in Cape Town with his last-day bowling and added a century in Port Elizabeth. Just don’t compare him to Ed Sheeran... 318 runs. Av: 45.42. HS: 120. 10 wkts. Av: 22.00. Best: 3-35.
OLLIE POPE 9
A STAR is born. England have long felt Pope would be their best batsman since Joe Root and here he proved it, notably with his unbeaten century in Port Elizabeth. Averaged 88.66 in the series and excelled with some great catches at short leg. Has potential to make 20 Test centuries — if the long game survives! 266 runs. Av: 88.66. HS: 135no.
JOS BUTTLER 3.5
WHAT to make of England’s most gifted player? Does not seem to know whether to stick or twist with the bat and was sloppy with the gloves when the ball kept low in Port Elizabeth. Ben Foakes, player of the series in Sri Lanka last time, is breathing down his neck. 115 runs. Av: 16.42. HS: 29. 14 catches. 0 stumpings.
SAM CURRAN 7
NO more just the obvious replacement for Stokes. Regularly handed the new ball for his swing and valuable contributions with the bat. Curran is very much part of the first-choice Test line-up now in Joe Root’s new young England. 130 runs. Av: 18.57, HS: 44. 10 wkts. Av: 32.60. Best: 4-58.
CHRIS WOAKES 6.5
AFFECTED badly by the flu virus that was a bigger factor in the first Test defeat at Centurion than we gave England credit for. Called up for final Test just 15 minutes before the toss when Jofra Archer pulled out through injury and bowled very well in the victory at the Wanderers. 32 runs. Av: 16.00. HS: 32. 3 wkts. Av: 28.33. Best: 2-38.