Muristek
Saqib Mahmood looked promising but this was another tour to forget for England, who have won just one of their last 17 Tests
By Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket Blog
Joe Root: 289 runs, average 48; one wicket, average 69; four catches By the hideous denouement, Root’s trademark busyness with the bat required an almost visible force of will; the words he delivered in interviews said one thing, but his eyes said another. The captain may have been dealt a weak hand by English cricket’s mismanagement, but he both bears some responsibility for those decisions (especially selection) and can be accused (again) of failing to get the most from the resources available to him. It was harder to discern the tactics of England’s most experienced captain than those of the West Indies’ much less experienced skipper. There is plenty of mitigation, but there is plenty of underachievement too. This was also Root’s report card for the Ashes defeat; so much for the reset. Grade C-
Zak Crawley: 184 runs, average 31; one catchAn opening batter will get a lot of good balls and get out to some of them – that is forgivable. It’s getting out to nothing balls that pushes an average down into the low 30s, exposes a middle order and lifts an opposition. The talent is there, but can England afford the luxury of waiting for it to flourish? Grade C+
Continue reading...