Andrew Strauss – 3: A poor game for the skipper. Two failures against Welegedara led to whispers of a perceived weakness against left arm seam. His last 17 Tests have only seen one hundred and a worrying average of 32. If that wasn’t enough his bowlers were wayward and his wicketkeeper unruly. No wonder he was left shaking his head. Final day declaration was disappointingly unadventurous.
Alastair Cook – 9: Now has a Bradmanesque six hundreds in his last 12 Test innings. It would have been seven but for an uncharacteristic miscued pull on 96 in the 1st innings. Cook is only 26, but has now passed none other than Jack Hobbs in the list of leading England run makers and already has 18 hundreds to his name. The records are his for the taking.
Jonathan Trott – 6: No one was more surprised than run-machine Trott at his 1st innings failure, so he can perhaps be forgiven his erroneous waste of a referral. Bounced back with a fluent 58 off just 75 balls second time around to (temporarily at least) hush those that suggest his batting is boring. Wicket of Paranavitana may compensate partly for his career average falling to just 64.
Kevin Pietersen – 6: Absolutely dreadful shot to fail first time around, but bounced back well to look something like his old self in the 2nd innings even if he did eventually fall again to left-arm spin. Those runs could prove important when India come calling later in the summer. Brilliant catch to remove Jayawardene on the final day.
Ian Bell – 7: Like Cook and Trott, is in the batting form of his life, Bell’s pair of fifties in the match were a stark contrast. The first was watchful and helped lift his side from a precarious 22/3 whilst the second came up in just 40 balls as England looked for quick runs. May have to avoid Matt Prior for a couple of days.
Eoin Morgan – 7: His first innings 79 put England in the ascendancy and the way he played the spinners augers well for the tours this winter to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sacrificed himself second time around as England pushed for the declaration.
Matt Prior – 8: The Vandal started the match by smashing boundaries at will as he cantered towards a fine hundred and ended it in ignominy after his bat (or was it his gloves?) took offence to one of the Lord’s windows. His mood cannot have been helped by conceding so many byes (32) during the Test, and being run out clearly proved to be the straw that broke the wicketkeepers back. See also Matt Prior's Desert Island Discs
Stuart Broad – 5: Was once again expensive and wayward with the ball and will do well to keep his place when the likes of Anderson and Bresnan are fit. Bright and breezy 50 once again showed how much he loves batting at Lord’s.
Graeme Swann – 6: Burgled three of the last four Sri Lankan 1st innings wickets, but this was not vintage Swann on a pitch that gave him little assistance. At least England's spin king was accurate and economical.
Chris Tremlett – 6: After his final day heroics in Cardiff it was perhaps inevitable that Tremlett would have a dip, and that’s exactly what he had as his radar went a bit awry at the start of the Sri Lankan 1st innings. Was still England’s best seamer though and bowled the occasional devilish delivery (as Dilshan's thumb will testify) and proved hard to get away.
Steve Finn – 6: Struggled at first with line and length and bowled his usual quota of boundary balls, but improved as the match wore on and deserved his four wicket haul to become the youngest England bowler to take 50 Test wickets. His knack of taking wickets is a good habit to have.
Where next?
County Championship XI of the week #9
Jack Hobbs by Leo McKinstry | Book review
The second coming of Tillakaratne Dilshan
Andrew Strauss is struck down by Kevin Pietersen's virulent malaise
1st Test, Cardiff: England marks out of 10
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