England’s ODI revolution continues apace after a very impressive win in Bangladesh. They’ve got nerve, depth and – as demonstrated in this series – they’ve got real fight. Here are some player ratings for the series – because life’s more straightforward when it’s marked out of 10.
BEN STOKES 9/10
We can add responsibility and leadership to the increasingly long list of things this man can do – and ODI runs. In a team full of youngsters – shorn of their skipper, an opener and their fastest bowler – and in hilariously hot conditions, Stokes drove the team forward in the manner that great England allrounders often do. Important for him to get more ODI runs, as well. You feel he needed them for him as much as anyone else. A future England captain?
JOS BUTTLER 9/10
Often described as a freak who’s able to do anything he wants, something we’d never seen before from Jos was anger. It’s not that it was needed, he was more than capable of being supremely world-class while also being quiet, but again – like Stokes – he grew in this series. He’s one of the best ODI batsmen in the world, and we knew that, but his leadership during a difficult time shouldn’t be forgotten.
BEN DUCKETT 8/10
There were always going to be opportunities for new players on this trip and Ben Duckett has taken his. He looked entirely at ease immediately and his ability to find singles meant that a) he was very hard to bowl to and b) England were constantly scoring at a comfy rate while he was at the crease. Only question is how he fits in when everyone’s back…
JAKE BALL 8/10
What a year it’s been for Jake Ball. A Test debut and an ODI debut and his stock has risen to the extent that he’s now getting picked above Steven Finn. His debut in the first ODI was one of the best in an England shirt and he offers the wicket-taking threat and intelligence required of an England seamer. His height is an important factor and he’ll be a part of the group for the foreseeable future.
ADIL RASHID 7/10
England’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs in 2016, which is slightly surprising because it’s hard to remember that many times when he bowled really well. That is, to a certain extent, the leg-spinner’s lot, and it was certainly the deal in the third ODI. Three of his four wickets came from deliveries he wouldn’t have been too proud of. He continues to offer a threat, though, and – with England’s ODI team getting more crowded – surely he’s the No.1 spinner now.
SAM BILLINGS 7/10
Every now and then certain England players seem to have to work a little bit harder, keep their feet on the ground for a little bit longer, and get far fewer chances to make a place theirs. It feels like Sam Billings is one of those players. He’s waited patiently while other players have had a go and now he’s taken his opportunity. Hasn’t he? He has to be one of England’s best six ODI batsmen. His performance in the last ODI was very impressive and his abilities are Buttler-esque.
CHRIS WOAKES 5/10
It’s a mark of Woakes’ rise that he was the senior bowler on this tour, and as he always does he took it on and did a very smart job of it. His figures (2 wickets at 72) don’t reflect brilliantly on his performance – and more new-ball wickets would have been helpful – but he played his part and hit the winning runs with a hold-the-pose six – that’s got to be worthy of loads of marks.
JASON ROY 5/10
He missed the final ODI through injury and didn’t make a massive impression in the first two games but even with England’s increasingly crowded batting line-up you get the sense that Roy’s not going anywhere. He’ll have a job in the India ODIs to prove that pace on the ball isn’t a must in order for him to score big, but his technique points to a man who’ll just improve and improve.
JAMES VINCE 4/10
Same old story for James Vince. All very pretty but it doesn’t quite translate to scores. There is no doubting he has all sorts of talent. Maybe he puts the cover-drive away for a while? It looks as if England might move on from him for the time being but they like him, his face fits, and he’ll be back with a ton of county runs under his belt in the not-too-distant future.
DAVID WILLEY 4/10
It’s a smallish sample size – he’s only played 10 games – but away from England David Willey averages 44 with the ball. At home it’s 29. He’s got a real ability to swing it early doors but the more irrelevant his batting becomes, the more threatened is his place in the side. He’s liked, and rightly so – check out his boundary catch in the first ODI – but it’s getting more competitive to stay in this England side and the Yorkshire man needs a slight upturn.
JONNY BAIRSTOW 4/10
Perhaps unfortunate to miss out to Chris Woakes as England’s Test man of 2016, Jonny Bairstow still needs to do some work to nail down his place in the ODI side. His place in the white clothes is secure – the only question is whether he keeps the gloves, loses the gloves or shares the gloves – but his one-day abilities are more in question when the presence of Duckett and Billings (and return of Morgan) is taken into account. He’ll fight for it, though, he always does. And he often wins.
LIAM PLUNKETT 4/10
Not much of a return for England’s immaculately bearded he-man but he only got a game and his role as mid-innings enforcer was hard to perform on a slow turner. Mark Wood’s injury problems mean Plunkett’s out-and-out pace remains his big calling card, there aren’t many others who can do his job. Will be intriguing to see if he makes the XI for the first ODI in India.
MOEEN ALI 3/10
After a wondrous summer with the bat it was perhaps time for Moeen Ali to struggle a little bit. The No.7 role seems perfect for him: bowl a lot of his allocation, come in and hit or come in and save the day. It wasn’t to be this time round and he struggled with bat and ball. Does playing in sub-continental conditions put too much pressure on him? If England were ever to go with just one spinner, it’d be hard to see Moeen retaining his spot.
