England player ratings v Pakistan - including Joe Root and James Anderson
Richard Mann looks back at the recent drawn Test series between England and Pakistan and gives his assessment of the home side's performances.
7. Alastair Cook - 117 runs @ 39
Following a tough winter, Cook began the series under a little bit of pressure but ended it with his reputation firmly intact and his importance to the team unquestioned. Having struggled against left-arm pace of late - Trent Boult gave him a torrid time in New Zealand - the prospect of facing Mohammad Amir would have been a daunting one but Cook led from the front with scores of 70 at Lord's and 46 at Headingley against a strong attack in tricky batting positions. His catching was also excellent in Leeds following a worrying recent dip in that department.
6. Keaton Jennings - 29 @ 29
Replaced Mark Stoneman at Leeds and immediately looked a better fit, playing with authority off front and back foot. Will have been disappointed not to cement his place with a big score following a promising start but looks to have made improvements to his game since his axing last summer and England will be hopeful their faith in Jennings is repaid.
7. Joe Root - 117 @ 39
Following a thumping loss at Lord's, where he made a fighting 68 in the second innings, Leeds was a huge Test match in Root's captaincy. Had England lost again, coach Trevor Bayliss might well have been on his way and Root's own position would have come under scrutiny. As it was, Root's senior players stood up and responded to his rallying call, England dominating from the outset. Another missed opportunity with the bat at Headingley - 45 and out this time - left Root seething but both venues in this series offered the bowlers plenty and he will be hopeful he can go big later in the summer.
3. Dawid Malan - 46 @ 15.33
Following a breakthrough winter in which Malan proved one of few bright spots in defeats in Australia and New Zealand, Malan now finds himself looking over his shoulder. A far cry from the pace and bounce of Perth which proved ideally suited to his strong back-foot game, Malan looks vulnerable in English conditions when the ball moves laterally. What Malan does have is a fine temperament and the ability to grind out ugly runs. He will need those attributes, though, with India's skilled seam attack up next and Joel Clarke hammering the door down at Worcestershire.
5. Jonny Bairstow - 48 @ 16 and 5 dismissals
Bairstow enjoyed another solid series with the gloves, though there were times at Lord's when himself and Alistair Cook looked unsure of each other. Things were much better in Leeds with Cook catching well at first slip but Bairstow, fresh from his promotion to number five, endured a modest time with that bat and will have been disappointed not to capitalise on a couple of bright starts. With Jos Buttler excelling at number seven, Bairstow will want to score heavily against India to lock himself in at five.
6. Ben Stokes - 47 runs @ 23.50 and 3 wickets @ 24.33
Despite his troubles off the field, Stokes remains key to England's future on it and was given a warm applause from the Lord's faithful when walking out to bat in the first Test. A typically crisp 38 there failed to materialise into something more substantial but he would go on to be the pick of the home attack, bowling with hostility and genuine pace to pick up three wickets as well sidelining the classy Babar Azam for the remainder of the tour. Missed out at Headingley due to injury but still made a nuisance of himself behind the Sight Screens when Alistair Cook was batting.
8. Jos Buttler - 161 @ 80.50
Put to bed any questions about his suitability for the red-ball game and his own desire to play Test cricket with a top-class showing. Batted smartly in the first Test at Lord's when England were trying to fight their way back into the game and but for an early dismissal on the fourth morning, might have been able to set Pakistan a tricky run chase. Outstanding with an unbeaten 80 in Leeds, this time taking the game away from the tourists with a well-paced innings that turned brutal once left with the tail. A rare talent and a fine pick from the selectors.
7. Dom Bess - 111 runs @ 37 and 3 wickets at 40.33
A breath of fresh air who impressed as much with attitude as he did with his cricket. Played vital roles with the bat, firstly when making a second-innings fifty at Lord's to drag England back into the game and then when nightwatchman in Leeds. His bowling needs plenty of work but there is a huge amount of potential there and much like Graeme Swann, he doesn't appear afraid to give the ball plenty of air. Whether his bowling can justify a place in the starting XI against India remains to be seen but this won't be the last we see of Dom Bess in an England shirt. Electric fielder.
5. Chris Woakes - 4 wickets at 18.25
Missed out at Lord's where England went with the extra pace of Mark Wood but was brought back at Headingley where overhead conditions would demand his skills with both bat and ball. Picked up three key wickets in the first innings in Leeds but was expensive - an issue he had in Australia - and his breezy 17 with the bat was undone by a beauty late on day two. Remains a fine cricketer in home conditions.
8. Stuart Broad - 7 @ 20
Shrugged off some unfair criticism, particularly after the defeat at Lord's, with a fine display. Although he didn't pick up the wickets he deserved in London, his opening spell on the second morning was most impressive and hinted that he was approaching something close to his best. The wickets duly followed in Leeds, three in each innings, and his first-morning burst was one from which Pakistan were never able to recover.
7.5 James Anderson - 9 @ 19.11
Another who was on the receiving end of plenty of criticism following the loss at Lord's, somewhat surprising given Anderson picked up four wickets there and came into the summer having been England's stand-out performer over the least two years, including in this winter's Ashes were he carried the bowling attack with little support. Struggled to locate his ideal length in the early exchanges at Lord's but fought back with three wickets on the second afternoon and having took a while to warm to his task in Leeds, he got better with more bowling and was soon back amongst the wickets. Not quite at his brilliant best but still very, very good.
5. Mark Wood - 2 wickets at 40.50
Harshly left out for the second Test having earned the nod at Lord's following a promising return in New Zealand. Bowled with pace and hostility in the first Test and would have finished with more wickets but for some poor catching from England's cordon. Still has questions to answer, particularly over whether he can maintain top speed over five days, but he can't provide those answers without a regular run in the side.
4. Sam Curran - 18 runs @ 18 and 2 wickets @ 21.50
Late call up following the injury to Ben Stokes and bowled well on debut, particularly in the second innings when over the initial nerves. Might need to find a yard of pace to succeed at this level but his batting looks most promising and he is another cricketer of whom there could be plenty more to come.
2. Mark Stoneman - 13 runs @ 6.50
Dropped for the second Test following another poor showing at Lord's where he looked all at sea against the moving ball. Unlucky in the second innings when getting an unplayable delivery that rolled along the ground but he has been given a good run and hasn't made the most of his opportunities.