NEW ZEALAND V ENGLAND T20I REPORT CARD: Eoin Morgan leads from the front as bowlers toil

Dawid Malan was the top run-scorer, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson and Chris Jordan were the standout bowlers. How did everyone else get on?

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Eoin Morgan

(5 matches, 192 runs, average 48)

England’s captain struck the ball as cleanly as anyone throughout the series, peaking in his phenomenal partnership with Dawid Malan in the fourth game between the sides, when he made a rapid 91.

As always, the inspirational skipper was ice-cool, leading his inexperienced squad to an impressive series victory, backing his youngsters in the process. Some pointed words after sloppy defeats at Wellington and Nelson had the desired effect.

His back, the cause of much consternation, looked in fine order as he leapt to catch Tim Seifert in the series-deciding Super Over.

Grade A

Dawid Malan

(4 matches, 208 runs, average 69.33)

His T20I record now sits at six scores above fifty in just nine innings. It represents an unprecedented start to a career in this format of the game.

He possesses an average of 57.25 and strike rate of 156.31 – a rare combination of brutality and consistency. Having just announced his departure from Middlesex to Yorkshire, saying: “I don't want to finish my career plodding along in county cricket,” this tour may well have worked in his favour.

Even with Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and others returning to the fold for the trip to South Africa, it is hard to see how Malan could be left out now.

Morgan did, however, level thinly-veiled criticism at the left-hander after he chose not to run a bye off the last ball of his innings in Napier, leaving him unbeaten on 103.

Grade A

James Vince

(4 matches, 110 runs, average 27.50)

A frustrating series for the Hampshire man that, in many ways, encapsulated his international career. His 59 in the first match was his highest white-ball score for England in 23 innings and was awash with languid class.

However, that was his only contribution of note. In the following game, he dropped two catches. There was a score of 49 at Nelson as well, either side of two scores of one.

Grade B

Jonny Bairstow

(4 matches, 90 runs, average 22.50)

Terrific in patches, the Yorkshireman is one of the world’s most feared T20 players, having formed a domineering partnership with David Warner at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Here, he threatened to go big in the first and last games, while missing out at Napier and Wellington.

His 18-ball 47 at Eden Park went a long way to pushing England towards a Super Over, in which he then played a key role. A fine outfielder.

Grade B

Tom Banton

(3 matches, 56 runs, average 18.66)

The Somerset batsman has so much talent. His six off Blair Tickner in the fourth T20I – pulled off the front foot with an aura reminiscent of Kevin Pietersen – was one of the shots of the series.

Similarly, his pick-up off Lockie Ferguson over midwicket just seven balls into his international career was the stroke that announced the arrival of a young man who feels he belongs.

Given the strength in depth around England’s top order, he will be frustrated not to have gone big at any stage. A huge Big Bash opportunity awaits. All things considered, an exciting start.

Grade B

Sam Billings

(5 matches, 34 runs, average 17, 2 catches)

One of four players to play in all five matches, but like Lewis Gregory – another who was ever-present – we found out precious little more than we already knew. Billings’ keeping was tidy and, as shown in his vice-captaincy, he is clearly a well-respected member of the team.

With the bat, he was not at his best. No recognised batsman scored their runs slower than the Kent man.

Grade C+

Sam Curran

(5 matches, 35 runs, average 11.66, 6 wickets, bowling average 25.50, economy 8.50)

Given how long Curran has been around the England setup – not to mention an £800,000 IPL deal, it seems bizarre that he had never played a T20I until this trip. He struggled with the bat until the final game, when he took down Scott Kuggeleijn, plundering 20 runs off his over.

It was a glimpse of his capabilities in the finisher’s role. With the ball, he fared pretty well, given the surfaces and his lack of real pace.

Grade B-

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Tom Banton showed his immense potential with the bat

Lewis Gregory

(5 matches, 21 runs, average 7, 1 wicket, bowling average 29, economy 7.25)

A curious trip for Lewis Gregory, who was picked as an allrounder but saw neither of his skillsets fully utilised. Given his big-hitting finishing role at Somerset, he was given a similar brief here. However, he had few real chances to show off his talents. At Christchurch and Napier, he neither batted nor bowled.

The finisher’s job is a tough one that requires some investment of time; so, if Gregory is truly Morgan’s man for the last few overs, then he must be given more opportunities to prove his worth. Tough, in truth, to judge his contribution.

Grade C

Tom Curran

(4 matches, 26 runs, average 26, 4 wickets, bowling average 27.50, economy 8.46)

In actual fact, Curran bowled far better than his overall figures suggest. His economy rate, for one, took an almighty hike at Auckland in what became 11 overs of carnage on a flat surface with tiny boundaries.

Until then, Curran had bowled superbly. His spell at Nelson seemed to have dragged England back into a game they had once been out of. Useful with the bat as well.

Grade B+

Chris Jordan

(4 matches, 48 runs, average 48, 7 wickets, bowling average 14.71, economy 8.02)

Jordan missed his first T20I for England since the 2016 World T20 when he was rested for the third encounter at Wellington, a statistic that highlights his worth to this side.

A fabulous death bowler, a gun fielder and a powerful lower-order hitter, he may just be among England’s most valuable players in this format.

His Super Over was his second for England in T20Is – his record now stands at 12 balls, 11 runs conceded, 2 wickets. He led a young attack superbly.

And lest we forget his three-ball 12 that dragged England into the Super Over in the first place. A superb tour that should nail down his place, even with Jofra Archer among others to fit in.

Grade A-

Saqib Mahmood

(3 matches, 7 runs, average 7, 3 wickets, bowling average 38.33, economy 11.50)

A baptism of fire for the 22-year-old Lancashire seamer. Well below his best in his first two appearances, his return for the decider may have been a surprise move, but he repaid Morgan’s faith with his best performance of the series.

Going at exactly 10 runs per over at Eden Park was, in the context of the occasion, a triumph. He is a better bowler than what he showed here. His time will come again – perhaps, even in the Tests.

Grade C-

Adil Rashid

(3 matches, 4 runs, average 4, 3 wickets, bowling average 35, economy 9.54)

Another who was below his best, though the surfaces offered so little to the spinners that it was difficult to truly judge the level of their displays. His best performance came at Eden Park – even as he went for 34 in his three overs.

Forever trusted by Morgan, who made him his one man to bowl three overs in the rain-reduced game. Question marks remain over the fitness of his shoulder; at times, it felt as if he was bowling with less zip than usual. The emergence of Matt Parkinson has handed England a second option.

Grade C

Matt Parkinson

(2 matches, 5 wickets, bowling average 12.20, economy 10.16)

Thrilling to watch, Parkinson was underused on debut at Wellington, though that may have been down as much to the breeze and ground dimensions as anything else. At Napier, on a similarly-sized postage stamp, he came into his own.

Four wickets may well have been five – or even six, had his outfielders held onto their catches. Bold, ballsy, traditional leg-spin – as batsmen came after the Lancastrian, he took more pace off the ball in a game of cat and mouse.

Given the circumstances – tiny boundaries, unresponsive wickets, debut nerves and huge totals to chase, Parkinson and Morgan will have been thrilled by his impact.

Grade B

Pat Brown

(4 matches, 4 runs, 3 wickets, bowling average 42.66, economy 9.84)

On pitches that offered the bowlers very little, Brown found that his array of slower balls didn’t necessarily have the same effect as back home.

Even so, he acquitted himself well and, apart from the occasional over, he was rarely on the receiving end of a complete onslaught. Strayed legside more than he would have liked to, but Morgan showed his faith in the Worcestershire man, handing him several big overs.

Grade B-

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Dawid Malan's century produced one of the moments of the series

Martin Guptill

(5 matches, 153 runs, average 30.60)

A series that began seemingly with no batting rhythm ended with a rapid 50 at Eden Park. Even at 33 years of age, there are few more dangerous operators in world cricket at this format.

After dragging on cheaply at Christchurch, there were regular contributions throughout the series. At Napier, where New Zealand were chasing England’s 241, he looked in remarkable fettle until clipping to midwicket. Once again, left forlorn at the end of a Super Over.

Grade B+

Colin Munro

(5 matches, 110 runs, average 22)

Something of an enigma – so dangerous when he gets going, but always liable to offer a chance. An unbeaten century in a warm-up match against the tourists was a reminder to England of what to expect.

In the main, they bowled very well at him – tucking him up and refraining from offering width. When they strayed too straight, Munro capitalised. Like Guptill, he improved as the series went on.

Grade B

Tim Seifert

(5 matches, 97 runs, average 19.4, 1 catch, 1 stumping)

Quite why Seifert found himself at the centre of the series-deciding Super Over is a question only Tim Southee and Gary Stead can answer. With Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor and Jimmy Neesham all waiting in the wings, Seifert struggled to get to grips with Chris Jordan.

Beforehand, the 24-year-old had made an innovative, eye-catching 39. In the main, however, England were comfortable bowling at the wicketkeeper-batsman. Like Billings, kept tidily.

Grade C

Ross Taylor

(5 matches, 116 runs, average 23.2)

A slightly odd series for the veteran who, despite making consistent runs, never truly made a defining contribution. With Colin de Grandhomme spending the series nearer the top of the order, Taylor batted slightly lower than he otherwise might have done. A middling effort from a fine player.

Grade B

Colin de Grandhomme

(5 matches, 115 runs, average 23)

The big man found himself doing his work from an unusual position, coming in at number four – ahead of Ross Taylor and Jimmy Neesham. It was not without logic, however. On one of the series' slightly tougher tracks at Wellington, his 55 was a brutal exhibition of hitting.

His in-to-out check-drive over extra cover for six off Parkinson may well have been the series’ finest stroke. Curiously, he was never called upon to bowl by Tim Southee.

Grade B

Jimmy Neesham

(3 matches, 63 runs, average 31.50, two wickets, bowling average 32, economy 12.80)

A mixed series for the allrounder, who missed one game through illness. His quickfire 42 at Wellington was, in essence, his role in the side defined in one innings. Coming in towards the end of the 20 overs, he propelled New Zealand from a decent total to a match-winning one.

In the final game of the series, however, it was his over that allowed Chris Jordan to take it to yet another a Super Over.

Grade B-

Daryl Mitchell

(3 matches, 37 runs, average 18.5, 1 wicket, bowling average 34, economy 12)

Like Lewis Gregory for England, Mitchell struggled to truly get into this series. His 30 in the first game took New Zealand to a competitive total, but his bowling was hammered at Napier, with his single over costing 25.

Grade C

Mitchell Santner

(5 matches, 26 runs, average 8.66, 11 wickets, bowling average 12.81, economy 7.83)

The left-arm spinner is some bowler. In a series that provided no margin for error for anyone, Santner was utterly superb. England were happy to take his four overs for 30, so long as their wickets were intact.

Often, this wasn’t possible; his guile was on show throughout, but best shown in his final over of the series. First, he saw Sam Curran coming and darted in a delivery far wider for Seifert to complete a stumping.

Two balls later, having seen Gregory hoist his first ball for six, he tossed it slower and far wider, enticing the batsman to chip to cover. A lovely piece of bowling by a highly intelligent operator.

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Mitchell Santner had a fine series with the ball

Grade A-

Ish Sodhi

(5 matches, 9 runs, average 9, 3 wickets, bowling average 58.66, economy 11.73)

A tough series for the leg-spinner. Quite simply, he rarely found any assistance off the surface. As he struggled, he seemed to bowl faster and faster. For a man of his quality, he bowled too many poor deliveries.

Dawid Malan took a serious liking to him during his century at Napier. He took one single over for 28.

In the end, it was a surprise to see him play in all five games, especially as the grounds got smaller, the pitches flatter and the English batsmen more confident. His overall return of 15-0-176-3 summed it up.

Grade C-

Tim Southee

(5 matches, 44 runs, average 44, 4 wickets, bowling average 38, economy 8.68)

In hindsight, it should have been Trent Boult bowling the Super Over. Overall, however, Southee captained well in some of the tougher conditions for a stand-in skipper.

During the hammering at Napier, he provided some respite for his side with a typically enterprising 39. He has always been good fun to watch with bat in hand – a strike rate of 220 here showed that little has changed in that regard.

Grade B-

Trent Boult

(2 matches, 8 runs, average 8, 2 wickets, bowling average 35, economy 10)

That Trent Boult’s arrival in the series coincided with consecutive defeats for the Black Caps was merely coincidental. Rather, he was unfortunate to be drafted in at Napier and Eden Park – two bowlers’ graveyards. He should have bowled the Super Over. He will have a greater say when the Tests begin.

Grade C+

Blair Tickner

(2 matches, 5 runs, 2 wickets, bowling average 37.50, economy 9.37)

A classic example of the power of the unknown. In Tickner’s first game of the series at Wellington, England had few answers and struggled to deal with his natural length and cutters. His spell of 2 for 25 was key in New Zealand’s win. Three days later, however, England had done their homework. His four overs were plundered for 50 at Napier.

Grade C+

Lockie Ferguson

(3 matches, bowling average 21.75, economy 7.25)

The tearaway was superb for New Zealand. Arguably the best bowler on either side, his absence from the final two games of the series was key as England were able to feast on an attack shorn of its quickest operator. He closed out New Zealand’s win at Nelson superbly and bowled sharply throughout.

Grade A-

Scott Kuggeleijn

(2 games, 0 wickets, economy 13.75)

A struggle for the right-arm seamer. England got on top of him at both Christchurch and Auckland. His four overs in the series cost 55 runs. Sam Curran plundered 20 of those in a four-ball period during his solitary over at Eden Park.

Grade D

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