England’s bowling was competitive but Joe Root only produced in the final innings of the tour and too many other players underperformed
George Dobell13-Feb-20198Mark Wood (six wickets at 15.50)
Only called into the squad after Olly Stone suffered injury, Wood showed what England had been missing with a blistering spell of fast bowling in St Lucia. Reaching speeds of 94.6mph, he made good batsmen look uncomfortable on a pretty easy-paced surface. Unable to repeat such dramatic returns in the second innings, Wood has nevertheless re-established himself among England’s first-choice squad and provided a telling reminder of the values of pace.7.5James Anderson (10 wickets at 24.50)
A series that started and ended well, but contained some tough moments in between. Anderson claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings in Barbados but, having delivered 30 overs in that innings, then found himself in the field again a couple of hours later and was obliged to bowl another 18. It was a typically whole-hearted performance from Anderson when a couple of colleagues went missing. He produced another incisive spell with the new ball in the second innings in St Lucia but was unable to exploit the uneven surface in Antigua.7Stuart Broad (four wickets at 30.75)
Bowled rather better than the figures suggest. Left out for the Barbados Test, on a surface that would probably have suited him perfectly, Broad bowled well without much fortune when recalled in Antigua. While he may have been just a fraction short, he beat the bat often and suffered a couple of dropped chances while sporting a shorter run-up that appeared not to have robbed him of any pace. Took an outstanding catch in St Lucia.6Ben Stokes (186 runs at 37.20, 10 wickets at 22.80)
England’s highest run-scorer in the series and, at times, best seamer. This was certainly not a vintage series for Stokes – he failed to reach 35 when the series was alive – but his bowling stamina and commitment with the ball were admirable in Barbados and, in St Lucia, he made his highest score since his 2017 arrest in Bristol.Moeen Ali (77 runs at 15.40, 14 wickets at 23.85)
Finished as England’s top wicket-taker for the second series in succession and top-scored in Antigua. But this was not a happy series for Moeen with the bat, in particular. Apart from that 60 in the second Test, he failed to reach 15 in the rest of the series and suffered a pair in Barbados. Largely went missing with the ball in Barbados, but came back strongly as a spinner as the series progressed. Took an outstanding catch in the second innings in St Lucia.Mark Wood celebrates in idiosyncratic style•Associated Press4.5Rory Burns (145 runs at 24.16)
Apart from one good innings in Barbados, this was a series of missed opportunities for Burns. He looked relatively solid against a fine new-ball attack but, having looked set, failed to capitalise. He never again reached 30 and several times, such as when late-cutting to slip in Antigua or clipping to square leg in St Lucia, suffered soft dismissals. He did, however, take some excellent catches in the field.Jos Buttler (178 runs at 29.66)
Twin half-centuries in the final Test came too late to change the result of the series. Until that point, Buttler had made just 55 from four innings. He endured a grim series in the field, too, and has now dropped 10 out of 24 chances since returning to the Test team. By some calculations he dropped six in this series, though a couple were fiendishly tough.Joe Denly (112 runs at 28.00
But for an umpiring error and a dropped chance, Denly would have suffered a duck on debut. But, having been thrown in as opener, he batted at No. 3 in St Lucia and took advantage of an early reprieve to make an increasingly pleasing 69. Not necessarily the end of the line.Ben Foakes (55 runs at 13.75, two catches)
There were moments, such as when he made 35 in the first innings in Antigua, when Foakes looked as if he had as good a batting technique as anyone in the England side. But, having failed to reach 15 in his three other innings, Foakes was the fall guy for England’s series defeat and was left out in St Lucia.4Jonny Bairstow (110 runs at 22.20, three catches)
A series that started with Bairstow as a specialist batsman coming in at No. 3 ended with him reclaiming the gloves and batting at No. 7. It didn’t seem to make too much difference: he was bowled three times in the series and leg-before on another occasion, a state of affairs that hints at a looseness of technique and temperament.Joe Root (177 runs at 29.50)
The series may have finished well, with a century in St Lucia and act of leadership that transcended the game, but this was a disappointing tour for Root. As a captain, he overbowled Stokes and Anderson in Barbados and he was party to the confused selection that hampered his team throughout. He was also responsible for the simplistic “you don’t win games by batting time” message that may have contributed to England’s loose play in Antigua and Barbados. Most of all, when the series was alive, he failed to score the runs his side required.Keaton Jennings reacts after being caught off the bowling Keemo Paul•Getty Images2Sam Curran (50 runs at 16.66, one wicket at 161.00)
A reputation-puncturing series. Having been selected ahead of Broad in Barbados, Curran largely squandered the new ball and was then exposed for a lack of pace. On this occasion, he was unable to compensate with the bat and was dropped for the final Test. Aged 20, he is young enough to come again, but it may have to be as a batting allrounder.Keaton Jennings (62 runs at 15.50)
Dropped after Barbados and recalled after Antigua, this was a series in which Jennings’ weakness outside off stump was brutally exposed. For an opening batsman, it is a fatal flaw. Bearing in mind his average of 1.33 against straight seam bowling in the series against India, it remains almost incredible he was selected.Adil Rashid (13 runs at 6.50, no wickets)
Picked for a Barbados Test in which he should probably not have played, Rashid failed to maintain much control and failed twice with the bat. He was dropped as a consequence and may find it tough to win a recall.
