PLAYER RATINGS: Root shines and spinners dominate in second Test

England have won their first Test series in Sri Lanka since 2001. Here, The Cricketer runs the rule over the individual performances of the players...

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SRI LANKA

Dimuth Karunaratne (63 & 57): The opener gave his side platforms to build on in both innings with back-to-back fifties. 8

Kaushal Silva (6 & 4): Undone by Leach in twice, helped by a fine catch by Stokes in the first and grea glovework by Foakes in the latter. 3

Dhananjaya de Silva (59 & 1): Important partnership of 96 with Karunaratne in the first innings. Watched Jennings take a jaffa of a catch at short leg in the second. 6.5

Kusal Mendis (1 & 1): Jack Leach has been all over Mendis so far, removing the batsman four times on the spin. 2

Angelo Mathews (20 & 88): A player of class and calm. Ultimately Sri Lanka’s hopes largely came undone when he fell after tea on day four. 8.5

Roshen Silva (85 & 37): In for the injured skipper, Roshen’s excellent first-innings 85 was backed up with a useful contribution alongside Mathews in the second. 8

Niroshan Dickwella (25 & 35): A supremely-positive batsman. Sri Lanka needed him to be the man on day five but it was a step too far. 6

Dilruwan Perera (4-61 & 3-96; 15 & 2): Seven wickets in Pallakele to move his series tally to 14 - joint leading with Moeen. 7.5

Akila Dananjaya (2-80 & 6-115; 31 & 8): Career-best innings figures for Akila with 6-115 as England looked to sweep absolutely everything. 8

Suranga Lakmal (1-44 & 0-14; 15 & 0): Not a lot to shout about for the stand-in skipper, picking up one wicket and adding little with the bat. Like England, some poor reviews crept in but he did oversee a decent team performance. 5

Malinda Pushpakumara (3-89 & 1-101; 4 & 1): First-innings scalps more by batsman misjudgement than world-class bowling. Picked up the wicket of Burns - who looked in ominous mood - in the second. 6

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Roshen Silva impressed for Sri Lanka

ENGLAND

Rory Burns (43 & 59): A maiden Test fifty for the Surrey opener who looked does not look fazed by the international game. Positive signs that England have got one they can rely on. 8

Keaton Jennings (1 & 26): Only 27 runs in the match but was positive alongside Burns in the second innings. Some magical stuff from the long man at short leg. 7.5

Joe Root (14 & 124; 1-26): A fine, fine hundred on away soil for the captain, only his fourth overseas. Has led his country to back-to-back away Test victories and England’s first series win in Sri Lanka since 2001. 9

Ben Stokes (19 & 0; 0-9): Poor review in the second innings, always makes things happen in the field, bowled just a single over in the match. 5

Jos Buttler (63 & 34): A highly-valuable effort in the first innings then added 74 with his captain at a swift pace in the second. 8

Moeen Ali (10 & 10; 2-85 & 4-72): Back down the order and fell cheaply in both innings but six more wickets for Moeen takes his series tally to 14. 7.5

Ben Foakes (19 & 65): Continues to show his class with both bat and gloves. Jennings’ short-leg parry steals the show but the wicketkeeper had to react for it to count. 8

Sam Curran (64 & 0; 0-19): Time Magazine must be working up that cover for ‘Person of the Year’ already… Another stunning piece of work with the bat. Six sixes in that 64. Injury looks set to rule him out of the final Test. 7.5

Adil Rashid (31 & 2; 3-75 & 1-52): The third musketeer alongside Leach and Moeen. Not always tight but has some magic in him. Got a big wicket in that of Kuranaratne in the second innings. 7

Jack Leach (7 & 1; 3-70 & 5-83): A richly-deserved maiden Test five-for for Leach. There will be many, many people out there delighted to see the bowler get his chance and take it. 8.5

James Anderson (7* & 12; 0-40 & 0-12): The first time since 2012 in Mumbai that Anderson has not taken a wicket in a Test match. 38/40 going to spin says it all. Superb contributions with the bat, sharing stands of 60 & 41 for the 10th wicket with Curran and Foakes respectively. 7

Comments

Posted by Tony Trevor on 21/11/2018 at 08:50

I can only make comments based on Talksport.( Not bad, but come back soon TMS) It seems to me, reading through the stats that there is more cohesion in the side at last. all successful teams have strength in depth; if some players don't perform, then there will be someone who picks up the pieces. and what a revelation; no less than THREE spinners doing the business, all looking good for the summer.

Posted by Mike Brown on 20/11/2018 at 13:08

great all round performance in very high temperatures ,would love to see Joe Denley given a spot in third test ,now Sam Curren ruled out with injury. Great to see Leach given a chance after all his health struggles. Top show ,cannot wait till Friday for final test! Mike in Devon

Posted by David Rimmer on 18/11/2018 at 09:07

I am very pleased for Jack Leach. He deserves all the recognition and plaudits. He has had quite a few injuries to deal with and questions as this action so he has shown great mental strength to come through all that. Only close followers of the county game will have appreciated his worth up till now but the wider public (and mainly less discerning one) will hopefully recognise his talent. If he maintains his health and fitness there is no reason why he cannot go on to take at least 200 Test wickets. He looks the real deal and I am sure he can adapt to less friendly conditions for spinners. The only minus mark for him is the unsuccessful review against him in the second innings. His wicket was expendable and his spin partner Moeen Ali could have done with that review when he was incorrectly given out LBW later in the same innings. I apologise if I have got it wrong about Leach reviewing his LBW but I read somewhere that he did so. As for Adil Rashid he is an entertaining cricketer but the looseness of his action in his delivery stride does not aid consistency. If England pick just two spinner sin the West Indies, he will have to be the one that misses out. Jennings, for however long his Test Career lasts, is an asset at short-leg and his mark reflect that. Rory Burns looks good so far but I would not want to put the mockers on him by saying anything else. Well done to The Cricketer or one of its writers for getting this piece up and others so quickly on a Sunday morning. The general public has no idea how much commitment and hard work is demonstrated by those in the media who work at inconvenient times. It certainly is a vocation.

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