England v West Indies series grades: Every player's report card after three captivating Tests

The Cricketer plays schoolmaster to deliver verdicts on all 27 players who took part in the recent campaign at the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford

ENGLAND

Dom Sibley (3 matches, 226 runs, ave 45.2)

Famine or feast was the theme of the series for the England opener. Criticism came from some quarters for his failure to find a second gear, but that’s not what Sibley’s presence in this side is about. Increasingly looks like he belongs even if he doesn’t look like he belongs. Misses an A- by millimetres.

B+

Rory Burns (3 matches, 234 runs, ave 46.8)

Didn’t reach three figures but made several notable contributions at the top of the order, sharing with Sibley England’s first century opening stand since 2016. Continued to be bogeyman-ed by Roston Chase, though the adaptation of the sweep towards the end of the series seemed to work a treat. Promising. 

B+ 

Joe Denly (1 match, 47 runs, ave 23.5)

Is this the end of the road for the Kent batsman in Test cricket? In the first match of the series he ate balls, as has always been the case in an England shirt, but could not deliver a telling innings. That was enough to see him chopped. No way back, you would think.

C

Zak Crawley (2 matches, 97 runs, ave 24.25)

You’re 22 years old, you’re trying to establish yourself as an international cricketer, you could do with a little help from the management. Crawley has got little of that when it comes to his role in this England side. He’s opened, he’s been shunted to six, moved up to three and asked to bat in the middle order, and he’s played just six matches. Give the kid a chance to breathe. His 76 in the first Test showed off his skills.

C+

Joe Root (2 matches, 130 runs, ave 43.88)

Took four knocks to settle after returning from the birth of his second child, but looked back to his fluent best in England’s second innings in the third Test. Captained calmly, used his bowlers well (it always helps when you have an attack of that calibre at your disposal). Add this to the performances in South Africa and there are some very real indications his captaincy is turning a corner.

B+

^{England captain Joe Root}

Ben Stokes (3 matches, 363 runs, ave 90.75; 9 wickets, ave 16.33)

Magic and mayhem. Stokes’ seamless switching of gears might have drawn interest from the world of Formula 1. He hit his slowest Test century, and the fastest half-century by an England opener, in the same match. He dug in for more than 300 balls, alongside Sibley, to turn the series on its head, then pulverised the same attack two days later. And when fit enough to bowl, he remains the man Root turns to for a crucial wicket. If he hadn’t dropped a couple of simple chances, he’d be pushing an A*.

A+

Ollie Pope (3 matches, 134 runs, ave 33.5)

Did not show the full scope of his abilities until the final Test of the series. A thoroughly dependable fielder close to the wicket. There was enough in his 91 at Old Trafford to prove, as if it needed any more proving, that his future is bright at the elite level.

B-

Jos Buttler (3 matches, 151 runs, ave 30.2)

It seems Buttler is destined not to have the prolific Test career all of English cricket wishes for him. Though there was an impressive, thoughtful 63 in the third Test, there wasn’t much else with the bat. With the gloves on, he missed just the one chance and looked much, much more assured than his counterpart in the West Indies side. 

But you can’t be a Test keeper on the quality of your glovework alone in the modern game, especially if you’re Jos Buttler.

B

Dom Bess (3 matches, 83 runs, ave 83; 5 wickets, ave 41.6)

Bowled with plenty of control, without being particularly threatening. As the series wore on, found his fast-bowling teammates were hogging the limelight. Looks an increasingly assured presence with the bat in the lower middle order - in the final Test, there may well have been a case for batting him above Woakes. 

B-

Chris Woakes (2 matches, 1 run, ave 0.5; 11 wickets, ave 16.63)

As an allrounder, Woakes’ place in this team is worthy of serious review. As a bowler, in English conditions, his name ought to appear as autofill on Joe Root’s teamsheet. Perfect seam presentation, wonderful use of scrambled seam, intelligent variations and a nagging line are particularly potent weapons in England. But, on current evidence, he is not a Test No.7. How long are England willing to stretch the tail?

B (because we’re judging him as an allrounder)

Sam Curran (1 match, 17 runs, ave 17; 3 wickets, ave 33.33)

One match in the middle of the series is never going to be enough time to make an impact. At least Curran maintains his 100 per cent record in Tests in England.

B

Jofra Archer (2 matches, 26 runs, ave 8.66; 4 wickets, ave 50.5)

A low-key series, barring a spectacular burst in Southampton. Archer missed the second match for his trip home to Hove, and was subjected to racist abuse on social media. Those who think he ought to be bowling 90mph-plus every spell ought to look at the speeds most effective in this series. He will have wanted a better return but, in the circumstances, keeping him involved now seems most pressing. 

C+

Stuart Broad (2 matches, 73 runs, ave 73; 16 wickets, ave 10.93)

How daft does the decision to leave Broad out at the Ageas Bowl look in hindsight? England’s mischief-maker-in-chief treated the West Indies batting line-up like an itamae with a plate of salmon. Slice, dice, slash and chop. He bowled as full as he ever has in his career, not fearing being taken for runs on occasion, willing to roll the dice. If it were a craps game, the casino manager would be closing the table. Brilliant.

A+

Jimmy Anderson (2 matches, 25 runs, ave 12.5; 5 wickets, ave 30)

Far from his most effective, Anderson played third fiddle to his old running mate and Woakes. But his economy rate of 2.34 was nearly half a run per over better than any of his England colleagues and that frugality will have paid off elsewhere.

B

Mark Wood (1 match, 7 runs, ave 3.5; 2 wickets, ave 55)

There is an increasing weight of evidence that suggests Wood is at his most effective away from home. Given England’s luxury of options, would it be a daft idea to play horses for courses?

C

^{Stuart Broad had an excellent series}

WEST INDIES

John Campbell (3 matches, 84 runs, ave 16.8)

Was regularly found out hunting for runs early in his innings outside off stump. There’s talent there, but temperament failed him on more than one occasion. 

C-

Kraigg Brathwaite (3 matches, 176 runs, ave 29.33)

Nuggety innings in the first and second Tests gave a timely reminder of Brathwaite’s resolve at the crease. Got trapped moving across his stumps more regularly than he might have liked. 

B

Shai Hope (3 matches, 105 runs, ave 17.5)

Continues to find life in Test cricket much more trying than limited-overs internationals. Cover drives like a dream but the technique that makes him so prolific in the white-ball arena appears to make him fragile against a seaming Dukes.

C-

Shamarh Brooks (3 matches, 195 runs, ave 32.5)

Something about the Hashim Amlas in West Indies’ latest batting find, well… on the attack at least. Promised plenty on several occasions but was unable to turn starts into innings of real substance. 

B+

Roston Chase (3 matches, 157 runs, ave 26.16; 10 wickets, ave 34)

For most of the series, Chase made Rory Burns his bunny. Bowled tidily throughout - certainly enough to question the need to introduce a primary spinner ahead of him for the decider at Old Trafford. Made a good half-century at the Ageas Bowl, which was the peak of his batting for the series. 

B+

Jermaine Blackwood (3 matches, 211 runs, ave 35.16)

Came into the series with a reputation as a talented hothead, liable to throw away his wicket at any moment. While that did still happen on occasion, Blackwood also showed a different side to his game - and a stickability which deserted several of his top-order teammates. His 95 in the win at the Ageas ought to be enough to give him an extended run in the team, and he is a livewire presence in the field.

A

^{West Indies seamer Shannon Gabriel}

Jason Holder (3 matches, 114 runs, ave 22.8; 10 wickets, ave 30.1)

West Indies’ series performances mirrored those of their captain. Excellent at Southampton, where he set the tone with a first-inning six-for that utilised line and length over pace and power, he became steadily less effective as the weeks went by. Though his leadership never faltered, his use of reviews became more lackadaisical too in the second half of the second and throughout the third Tests. 

B

Shane Dowrich (3 matches, 126 runs, ave 21)

Can wicketkeepers get the yips? Dowrich certainly appeared to towards the end of a gruelling tour. His batting against raw pace and nipping seam was also exposed, after a fine 61 at the Ageas. 

C+

Alzarri Joseph (2 matches, 59 runs, ave 19.66; 3 wickets, ave 60.66) 

Unfortunate to be dropped for the third Test, despite only picking up three wickets in the first two games. Certainly showed the application and discipline necessary, and grasped English conditions quickly.

B-

Kemar Roach (3 matches, 15 runs, ave 5; 8 wickets, ave 36.5)

Did not let his long, long barren patch in Test cricket affect him, and romped back into the wickets in the back end of the series. Became the first West Indian since Sir Curtly Ambrose in 1994 to reach 200 Test wickets. Used his angles in the delivery stride to great effect.

B+

Rahkeem Cornwall (1 match, 12 runs, ave 6)

Bowled with rhythm in his one appearance but did not affect the game enough to justify his inclusion. A blinding catch at slip, and one dolly drop.

C

Shannon Gabriel (3 matches, 4 runs, ave 2; 11 wickets, ave 32.27)

Just about achieved match fitness at the start of the series, but by the end it was evident he did not have series fitness. Sensational at Southampton, where his nine wickets in the match did for England, but steadily more and more ineffectual.

A-