Andrew Strauss – 7: A first Test fifty of the summer at last, but the skipper will have been disappointed not to have converted it to what would have been his first home Test hundred since Lord’s 2009. Took the bold step to insert India after winning the toss and was richly rewarded by his bowlers. Captain of officially the best Test side in the world – I bet that feels great.
Alastair Cook – 10: Made India pay in spades after missing out at Lord’s and Trent Bridge. Has incredible levels of concentration and now has the sixth highest Test score by an English batsman to his name. The Anti-Sehwag: it may not be pretty to watch but it is certainly relentless and effective.
Ian Bell – 5: A strangely skittish cameo with the bat after his triumph at Trent Bridge even if it still contained some characteristically wonderful strokes. Perhaps he wanted to do well in front of his home crowd too badly?
Kevin Pietersen – 7: Looked in imperious form and back to his absolute best as he raced to fifty before suddenly stuttering and losing his wicket. Maybe it was too easy for him? Still the leading run scorer in the series despite Cook’s momentous innings.
Eoin Morgan – 8: Made India pay for dropping him twice and really knuckled down to complete a workmanlike second Test hundred. Still looks suspect to the seamers outside his off-stump, but luckily for him the winter Tests are in Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Ravi Bopara – 3: Poor old Ravi. Kept from the crease until the score was 596/4 and looked incredibly nervous when he did finally arrive not knowing whether to stick or twist. Didn’t bowl a ball. With Trott set to come back and Taylor waiting in the wings, will he get another opportunity?
Matt Prior – 6: An almost immaculate performance with the gloves once again even if he wasn’t able to embellish another England batting performance on this occasion.
Tim Bresnan – 8: Picked up another five wickets and a second consecutive fifty to raise his Test batting average over 40. Looks a proper Test bowler now and bowled the ball of the match to castle Dravid on the first morning. What happens when Tremlett is fit again? An interesting conundrum for the selectors.
Stuart Broad – 8: Continued his excellent form in the series with match figures of six for 81. Is this really the same player who struggled so badly against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer? A cricketer reborn.
Graeme Swann – 5: Must feel like a bit of a spare part at the moment, but at least the pitch offered him some assistance in the second innings and the wickets of Raina and Mishra to boot. Clearly didn’t enjoy being battered all over Edgbaston by Kumar.
James Anderson – 9: Bowled far better in the first innings than his figures suggested – the working over he gave Tendulkar was sensational and Broad owes him that wicket. Got his reward second time around though with a wonderful opening spell on day four. Now stands shoulder to shoulder with Dale Steyn as the best Test quick in the world.
Where next?
2nd Test: Trent Bridge - India marks out of 10
2nd Test: Trent Bridge - England marks out of 10
1st Test: Lord's - England marks out of 10
1st Test: Lord's - India marks out of 10
The rehabilitation of Stuart Broad
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I am going to investigate this further and see where I am going to be retargeted since I visited his home page.
Posted by: grow taller naturally | Monday, August 15, 2011 at 13:35
...."an immaculate performance with the gloves"....
Including missing a straightforward stumping?
Posted by: Ian Jackson | Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 15:06