England marks out of ten for Pakistan ODI series

 
Thank God it's over. We have never been so glad to see the end of an English summer of cricket than this one. This is a shame as the claim and counter-claim of corruption and match-fixing overshadowed what was actually a thrilling one day series. Pakistan's fightback at The Oval and Lord's saw some wonderful bowling from Umar Gul and the momentum seemed to be with Shahid Afridi's side as the tourists again produced brilliance from confusion.

But the toss proved crucial at the Rose Bowl yesterday and despite illness and injury besetting England's innings, another wonderful century from Eoin Morgan and an exhibition of off-spin bowling from Graeme Swann saw England home.

So with the World Cup on the horizon, how did the England players rate during the series and what are their prospects of making the cut for the XV who will travel to the subcontinent?

Andrew Strauss - 9.5 (317 runs at 63.40, SR 93.23, 1 100, 2 50s, HS 126): The captain continued his transformation as a ODI batsman and although he is not quite in the Marcus Trescothick league yet he is getting closer. Has expanded his repertoire of strokes and a strike rate of 93 together with the volume of runs shows that Strauss is consistently giving England good and fast starts. Showed great dignity and restraint in the face of Ijaz Butt's ridiculous accusations. Reverse Sweep WC rating - On the plane despite what Messrs Gough, Stewart and Pringle may think

Steven Davies - 8 (197 runs at 39.40, SR 105.91, 1 50, HS 87): The latest wicketkeeper off the production line impressed throughout the series with bat and gloves. Just under 200 runs at over a run a ball would seem to suggest that the Surrey keeper will pip Kieswetter and Prior to the gloves for the World Cup. However, with the revolving door of wicketkeepers in the England ODI side, Davies won't rest easy until he is on the plane.Reverse Sweep WC rating: Leading the race to the departure gate ahead of Kieswetter and Prior

Jonathan Trott - 6 (131 runs at 26.20, SR 72.37, 2 50s, HS 69): Continued to confound the critics who doubt his suitability for ODI cricket in the first two matches at least. Then seemed to get unsettled by what was happening off the pitch and went into his shell for the last three games. Would seem to have an alternative career as a wrestler if his spat with Wahab Riaz is anything to go by. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Incredibly for a batsman who averages just under 50 in ODI, Trott is likely to lose a straight race with Bell to the final batting place on the plane

Paul Collingwood - 4 (84 runs at 21.00, SR 65.11, HS 47): Judging by his migraine yesterday, Colly is just as worried about his dire form as England supporters are beginning to be. His 18 ball four at Lord's was just horrible. But typically, he returned from his darkened room renewed to resume his innings and make a crucial battling 47 in the decider yesterday to help resurrect England's innings with Morgan. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Needs to regain form and confidence in Australia, but it would seem unthinkable that Lieutenant Colly would not take up his seat next to the skipper on the plane to India

Ian Bell - 5 (55 runs at 27.50, SR 59.13, HS 28): Came back in for the last two matches and looked his usual classy self in difficult conditions for batting. But just like the old Bell managed to get out when he had done all the hard work. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Bell's class and ability to play in different gears would seem to put him ahead of Trott in the queue at the departure gate

Eoin Morgan - 9 (225 runs at 56.25, SR 94.14, 1 100, 1 50, HS 107*): Scored his third brilliant ODI hundred of the year yesterday to confirm his position as one of the best limited overs batsman currently operating in world cricket. Has bottle, skill and a capacity for the unexpected in abundance. Reverse Sweep WC rating: On the plane in one of the first-class seats

Ravi Bopara - 6 (58 runs at 29.00, SR 105.45, HS 35*): His 35* in the first ODI was just the sort of innings that Bopara should be playing at number six. Thereafter he struggled, giving his wicket away at a crucial time in the second match and getting bogged down when promoted to four at The Oval before being dropped for the final two matches. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Would seem the best suited in the squad for the number six role but could yet miss out to Trott and Bell or even Wright

Luke Wright - 7 (49 runs at 49.00, SR 70.00, HS 48*; 1 wicket at 34.00, ER 4.25 BB 1/16): Only played two matches but batted well in a losing cause at The Oval and then bowled a good spell in the decider yesterday to keep him in the mix for the final XV. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Has kept himself in contention but may be left behind at the Terminal in the final reckoning

Michael Yardy - 4 (3 wickets at 57.66, ER 5.96, BB 2/49; 27 runs at 13.50, SR 87.09, HS 13*): Held his nerve at Headingley to see England over the line in a tight finish but disappointed with the ball and proved expensive. Could be a liability at the World Cup. Reverse Sweep WC rating: Samit Patel is more likely to get wickets and is a better batsman, so Yardy could be a Weight Watchers diet away from losing his spot

Tim Bresnan - 5 (7 wickets at 36.85, ER 5.90, BB 3/51; 30 runs at 10.00, SR 111.11, HS 18*): Useful cameos with the bat at Headingley and the Rose Bowl. Bowled well at The Oval, but other than that was expensive. Only took one wicket in five matches with the new ball, which suggests England's strategy of opening the bowling with Bresnan needs reviewing before the World Cup. Reverse Sweep WC rating: An average of 52 with the ball and economy rate of 5.6 in 12 ODIs this summer should see Bresnan dropped for the World Cup, but the England selectors seem to like him...

Graeme Swann - 9 (11 wickets at 19.00, ER 4.44, BB 4/37):Was once again England's star with the ball and was sublime in the last two matches with the balls to bowl Mohammad Yousuf and Fawad Alam at the Rose Bowl worthy of the maestro Shane Warne himself. England's key weapon for the World Cup. Reverse Sweep WC rating: On the plane in one of the best two seats with Morgan

Stuart Broad - 7 (11 wickets at 22.63, ER 5.41, BB 4/81): Took wickets regularly throughout the series and was England's leading wicket taker along with Swann, but was expensive at times especially at Headingley. Bowled beautifully in the decider yesterday to hand the momentum back to his side. Reverse Sweep WC rating: On the plane and in the XI

James Anderson - 8 (6 wickets at 29.50, ER 3.93, BB 3/26): Transformed from the hesitant and unhappy Anderson of earlier in the summer and whilst he didn't get the volume of wickets he deserved, Anderson kept things tight and had the best economy rate of the England bowlers. Reverse Sweep WC rating: On the plane and in the XI 

Comments

[Howe_zat]

Wright was no better than Bopara or Colly. He is not a batsman, keep him out of the top six.

Yardy isn't really in the side to take wickets, as odd as that sounds, but has only had a couple of dodgy LO games all year. Patel is nowhere near the side.

There's still a place for Trott in the XI. The no.3 spot in ODIs is a sedate one, with the layer often in neither powerplay and needing to negotiate the middle overs.

Bresnan was very ordinary in this series, especially with the new ball, and England need a strike bowler at the death. Shazad has a SR of less than 30 across all formats, and should be given a go.

Howe_zat's WC XI:

Strauss
Davies
Trott
Colly/Bell (depending on form)
Pietersen
Morgan
Yardy
Swann
Broad
Shazad
Anderson

[The Reverse Sweep]

Thanks for the comments Howe_zat. I'm not a big fan of Wright either, but he did quite well in his two matches - one with the bat and the other with the ball. Agree that he is not in the class of Bell, Bopara or Morgan the other alternatives for number six.

England have a difficult choice to make with Trott. There are four positions available with him, Belly, Colly, KP, Morgs & Ravi to choose from. You'd think that Morgs, Colly and KP are nailed down for three of them, so it will be a hard decision.

Agree with you on Bresnan. He does add useful runs, but he doesn't fulfil the main criteria on his job description.

I'll be naming my World Cup XV over the coming days so I'll hold guard on Yardy for the time being other than saying I hear what you are saying but when you add his lack of wickets to his high economy rate it doesn't make a good combination!