England vs India - series ratings

It's that time again. A series has been concluded, and we all know how much fun it is to rate the players, then argue outrageously over who was worse between Broad and Bresnan, whether Gambhir's running between the wickets is worse than Ashwin's fielding, etc. So without further ado, here are my ratings for the series.

India

Sehwag - 4: started the series with a bang, a superb run-a-ball hundred setting up a thumping win in the first Test. Finished with a whimper, playing inside the line of an inswinger for a second ball duck. In between, there was the odd start, a comical run out, and a general impression that he isn't quite fit enough for Test cricket, particularly in the field. His slip catching has slipped badly and by the end of the series he was standing with his hands about waist height despite the very low bounce.

Gambhir - 5: usually got in, but never made it past 60, and played some fairly ordinary shots to get out. Fielding is average (which makes him about the third best in the Indian team), and loses a mark for some shocking running between the wickets.

Pujara - 8: faded away somewhat after a fantastic start, but what a player he looks like becoming. A study in concentration in the first Test, his second Test century should have set India up in a decent position. A couple of unlucky dismissals, being run out by Gambhir and incorrectly adjudged to have gloved one in the final Test. It was his dismissal in the second innings in Mumbai which you felt really was a turning point in the series. Excellent under the lid at short leg/silly point.

Tendulkar - 2: it was sad to see such a great batsman struggle so badly. Made one good innings to keep India alive briefly in the third Test, but even that was a real struggle. England targeted him through Panesar and Anderson, ruthlessly so, and he looked his age as he averaged below 20. A passenger in the field, who England ruthlessly picked on.

Kohli - 5: a poor series rescued somewhat by a superb hundred in the final Test. Too often guilty of getting himself out with poor shots, but finally showed the necessary application in the final innings to save India from a possible 3-1 defeat. A very fine fielder, be it at leg slip to the spinners or in the ring, how India could have done with more players showing his level of commitment.

Yuvraj Singh - 2: a decent first innings, but thereafter looked all at sea whenever he came into bat, be it against Swann, Panesar or Anderson, they all seemed to have his number. Underused with the ball, and his fitness has gone downhill to the extent he's not far off a liability in the field.

Jadeja - 6: Bowled pretty well, keeping things very tight. Not a big turner of the ball, but varied his pace and angles cleverly throughout. Batting was a bit frenetic, though that 's maybe understandable on debut after a huge partnership with Anderson reversing it both ways. Brought new energy to India in the field.

Dhoni - 4: a couple of fighting innings with the bat, but some poor dismissals too. Keeping patchy at times but took his chances brilliantly. Probably the best in the world standing up to spinners at the moment. Captaincy was disappointing, too often letting games drift away, though he wasn't much helped by his bowlers.

Ashwin - 3: That he was India's second best batsman probably speaks more about India's struggles with the bat than anything, though he did bat very well. He was picked for his bowling though, and that was largely poor, as he struggled to maintain any degree of control for his side, guilty of trying too much different things. Also, for such a young player, his fielding level is unacceptable, so loses a mark there.

Zaheer Khan - 1: looked very much on his last legs as a Test bowler. Not fit enough to bowl several spells in a day, and aside from the decent spell to get rid of Compton in the first Test had nothing to shout about. Batting ability has disappeared to the extent that he's a walking wicket, and the less said about his fielding the better.

Ohja - 7: India's best bowler by some distance, though lost his effectiveness as the series drew on somewhat. Never stopped trying and ended with 20 wickets at 30-odd. Blocked well with the bat but should really have been looking for more runs on the fourth day in Nagpur, and not India's worst fielder either. Tries hard at everything he does, at least.

Yadav - 8: had a very good first Test, finding some reverse swing and picking up 4 wickets, before frustratingly spending the rest of the series injured.

Sharma - 5: thought he bowled pretty well in the last two Tests, finding a fuller length and limiting the loose balls. First innings in Nagpur especially good. Signs that he's getting there at last, which is a good thing for India. His fielding, like Ashwin's, is unacceptable.

Harbajan - 2: looked about as threatening as a very cute puppy. Cook and KP played him with consummate ease. Not the right selection, and dropped immediately.

Chawla - 3: a few late wickets notwithstanding, he leaked a few too many runs in the first innings really considering the nature of the pitch. Never threatened in the second innings, and failed with the bat.

England:

Cook - 9: most has already been said. led England from the front superbly with three centuries in the first three Tests. His innings in the second innings of the first was so important as it gave England renewed belief. Captained pretty well too, improving as the series went on. Umpired out twice in the final test, but a series win in India as your first series as official captain is some achievement. Excellent run out of Dhoni in the final Test kept England in control.

Compton - 6: Got some good starts throughout and played an important role in setting up strong positions with big opening partnerships (three of 100+, two more of 50+). Would have liked to have gone on to a big score though, with just one half-century. Fielding was a bit below par at times.

Trott - 7: started the series poorly, but fought grittily in the third Test to set up a strong position for his side. Magnificent hundred in the final Test insured England's series win, and increasingly assured at slip to the spinners.

Pietersen - 8: frenetic first Test, but his innings in the second Test was something truly special. 50 in the third kept England going though he'll be disappointed he didn't kick on, and vital first innings runs in the final Test. Good in the field.

Bell - 4: was having a poor series, but played very well in the final innings. People will talk about "soft" runs but he came in with England wobbling, so it was a crucial innings. Shouldn't obscure the fact that prior to that he'd contributed very little with the bat though, as his struggles in the subcontinent continued. Hopefully will take renewed confidence from that knock though. Superb fielder, be it with some great catches at short leg or a pin-point piece of fielding to run out Pujara.

Bairstow - 3: looked fairly comfortable, before playing a poor shot, so failed to make the most of his chance. Great catch to dismiss Pujara may have been one of the turning points of the series.

Patel - 4: a series that was neither here nor there really. Never disgraced himself, but equally never looked quite at home either. A couple of useful knocks, but averaged under 20 with the bat, and when he's not required with the ball isn't worth his place. Fielding improved beyond recognition.

Root - 8: surprisingly called up for the last Test, and immediately looked completely at home in the conditions. Nice technique, very organised, runs hard between the wickets, and great levels of concentration: there's much to like about this kid.

Prior - 8: cemented his standing as the leading wicket-keeper in world cricket with a number of very important innings, none more so than in the final Test where England were 139-5 when he came in. Hasn't scored a hundred for a while, but that's a minor quibble. Kept pretty well, but did miss some tough chances.

Swann - 8: bowled very well throughout, sometimes as support act to Monty, sometimes as the main attacking threat. Re-discovered some form with the bat, his first innings runs in Nagpur vital. Not great in the field though, a few drops at slip.

Broad - 2: bowled a couple of good spells without luck, but generally looked a little unfit, and was dropped for the first time in a long while before the third Test. Hopefully will be the kick up the backside he needs to get back to his best.

Bresnan - 1: never particularly looked like getting a wicket. Don't think he's ever quite recovered from his elbow surgery. Did put in the hard yards in the fourth Test at least.

Anderson - 8: after a bit of a listless first test, he was magnificent. Early wicket of Gambhir in Mumbai got England in the game, and really came into his own in the final two Tests when the ball started reversing. Bizarrely, people before the series were still questioning his ability outside England (I suggest these people didn't watch the last Ashes); Surely that discussion is now over. Fielding improved as the series went on.

Finn - 8: had an excellent Test. Good if unspectacular in the first innings, where he dismissed Dhoni with a brute, magnificent in the second where he reverse swung the ball both ways at pace. England will be hoping he can stay fit. Run out of Sehwag halted India's momentum on day 1.

Panesar - 8: wrongly left out for the first Test, and proved the selectors wrong with 11 wickets in the second. Then chipped in with 4 first innings wickets in the third, before a less impressive finish to the series. Wheeled away without much joy on a lifeless track in the final Test, but crucially kept a lid on the run rate. Fielding still patchy.

Don't think it's really fair to give players who played just one test a "series" ranking.

Apart from that pretty good ratings and comments.

Excellent analysis, enojyed reading that. Agree with all of your ratings!

I particularly like the 6 for Compton. I'm sure a lot will rate him lower as he only got one 50 but he really applied himself and usually got the team off to a good start with Cook. I think that's a great effort for a debut Test series.

VTR wrote:Excellent analysis, enojyed reading that. Agree with all of your ratings!

I particularly like the 6 for Compton. I'm sure a lot will rate him lower as he only got one 50 but he really applied himself and usually got the team off to a good start with Cook. I think that's a great effort for a debut Test series.

Agree there. Also the fact is Compton's game is probably less suited to the slow turning tracks of Indian wickets and more suited to the seaming grassier wickets like those in England and the bouncier wickets as those in Australia and South Africa.

Very good, but Kohli and Sehwag should swap points. Sehwag's hundred helped to set up the win and was looking good in Kolkata until that run-out, plus more runs and better average and of course the new ball.

A six for Jadeja {more than most} Two wkts, of which Trott and KP played badly and just 12 runs is too high.

And Bressy did not play the third Test.

Sehwag's run out was (mostly) his fault though, and his fielding was awful. maybe I take too much note of fielding, but I believe the energy a side brings to the field is really important, and a lot of India's problems stemmed from a disinterest in the field at times.

On Jadeja, he did actually get three wickets, albeit all poor shots, and bowled well. Maybe 6 is a mark too high, but again, thought the energy he brought to the field (where India were much improved at least in the first innings) was important.

Duly edited re Bresnan, I meant fourth Test of course...

INDIA

Sehwag 5 - Started with a bang, but overall proved that he's a considerably lesser player than he was 2 or 3 years ago. Didn't step up when he was really needed.
Gambhir 6 - Made a contribution in virtually every match, but still no Test hundred for a long time. Needs to convert starts.
Pujara 8 - In a long series you can't maintain high standards forever. Early knocks conclusively proved that he's a top player for both now and the future.
Tendulkar 3 - A shadow of his former self I'm afraid.
Kohli 5 - A disappointing series really, with a feeling that he abused his form. Finally stepped up in Nagpur, but it was probably too late.
Yuvraj 4 - Has never quite cracked Test cricket, and so to pick him with so few FC innings behind him after a debilitating battle with cancer seemed premature. Long-form career probably now over for good. Not as effective with the ball as might have been hoped either.
Dhoni 6 - Some decent contributions with the bat, particularly the 99. No major howlers with the gloves. Captaincy curious at times, but are there are viable alternatives?
Ashwin 6 - Started well with the ball, but failed to adjust when England started playing him better. Solid with the bat.
Zaheer 3 - Struggled before India made sensible decision to axe him, in spite of still arguably being one of the best of a very average group of Indian seamers.
Yadav 7 - Bowled pretty well before getting injured I thought.
Ojha 7 - Kept at it better than Ashwin as the series went on, and got wickets at the start.
Harbhajan 2 - Has become totally ineffective over the past couple of years.
Sharma 6 - Not his worst series. Bowled some good spells in both Tests. Needs to find a way to get more rewards from good bowling though.
Jadeja 6 - Bowled well first innings. Didn't get a proper chance to see him as a Test batsman.
Chawla 5 - Picked up wickets and not terrible. Poor selection though.

ENGLAND

Cook 9 - Luck was always going to run out eventually, but a stunning effort from England's MasterChef.
Compton 7 - No big score, and a mediocre average, but formed some crucial partnerships with Cook which made a huge difference to the way the middle order were able to bat.
Trott 7 - Slow start, but looking very good by the end.
Pietersen 8 - Difficult to rate. 2 or 3 rank awful innings, mixed in with a couple of gritty effors and a brilliant hundred.
Bell 5 - Continued poor form in Asia, until important final effort. Remains a world class performer.
Patel 4 - Did little to suggest he should be considered for Tests.
Prior 8 - Exemplary. Perhaps not his cleanest series with the gloves (but that's against his very high standards). Many important knocks with the willow in hand.
Bresnan 3 - Has lost his nip, which is worrying for the future of his Test career.
Broad 4 - Not quite right at the moment.
Swann 8 - Back on top form. Best bowler by a mile at Ahmedabad, and then worked well in tandem with Monty. Important runs at Nagpur.
Anderson 8 - Started in his mediocre 2012 form, but found his 2010-11 form in the last two games. Used it to devastating effect.
Bairstow 5 - Not much to comment on.
Panesar 8 - Instrumental to wins in Kolkata and in particular Mumbai. Not quite at his best in Nagpur. Perhaps bowling the best he ever has.
Finn 7 - Pretty steady effort at Kolkata, including key wickets.
Root 8 - A super debut. Lets not build him up too much yet.

MY SERIES RATINGS

ENGLAND

Cook-10
Compton-5
Trott-7
KP-8
Bell-6
Patel-4
Prior-7
Swann-8
Bresnan-2
Anderson-8
Panesar-8
Bairstow-4
Broad-1
Root-7

INDIA

Gambhir-6
Sehwag-4
Pujara-9
Tendulkar-2
Kohli-5
Yuvraj-3
Dhoni-5
Ashwin-9
Zaheer-3
Yadav-6
Ojha-10 (leading wicket taker in series with 20 wickets..enough said)
Ishant-6
Harbajhan-4
Jadeja-3
Chawla-5

Ojha did bowl loads of overs. I know it's Christmas but a ten is a little generous

Swann also took 20...

nope IMO its justified....

20 wickets in the series, leading wicket taker and was economical as well!

Compton 5 and Bell 6?

Harbajhan 4 yet Jadeja 3? (and Broad 1 come to mention it)

ok....

Pretty much for the reasons MfC and Shelsey have given:

INDIA:
Shewag 4
Gambhir 5
Pujara 8
Tendulkar 2
Kohli 4 (gains on Shewag for fielding but hundred less important in context)
Yuvraj 3
Dhoni 5 (batting dodgy, captaincy poor, keeping fine)
Ashwin 4
Zaheer 1
Ohja 7
Sharma 6
Yadav 7
Harbajhan 1
Chawla 2 (loses a mark for looking like a club cricketer when batting)
Jadeja 6

ENGLAND:
Compton 6
Cook 9.5
Trott 7
KP 8
Bell 4.5
Patel 4
Prior 8
Bresnan 2
Swann 8
Anderson 8
Panesar 8
Finn 7
Broad 3

CF wrote:nope IMO its justified....

20 wickets in the series, leading wicket taker and was economical as well!

Fair enough mate

MFC and Shelsey, think you both rate Gautam Gambhir far too high. Matt Prior, a consistent contributer at number 7 not scoring a test hundred for a bit long is perfectly understandable. But to throw so many starts to the wasteland of nothingness as Gambhir does ever so often without even acknowledging is absolutely criminal. 45, 65, 60, 40, 37....... Please, too much, get lost you waster!. And as if that is not enough, as cricinfo puts it , the Thril Seaker has been running like a mad man and was involved in throwing away a couple of wickets through mindless run outs.
Here are my ratings.
India.
Sehwag 5. Started the series with a hundred that set up India's win in the first test and then like his partner wasted a couple of starts. Not consistent enough, and his fielding has gone down.
Gautam Gambhir 4. Enough said already.
Cheteshwar Pujara 8, a fine series overall for Pujara although he would have loved to make more of an impact towards the latter parts.
Sachin Tendulkar 2, a very very poor series by Sachin's standards, despite the determined 76.
Virat Kohli 5, partly balanced his poor series with a determined hundred in the last match, but Kohli has a lot to learn about building a test innings, that last innings gives hope that he's already on to that.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni 4 Couple of pretty decent contributions with the bat, and kept well to the spinners, didn't miss as many chances as Prior did but let some runs through. Not really inspired captaincy, doesn't seem able to adapt to the changing nature of the team.
Ravindra Jadeja 6. Kept things quite with the ball and tried to stick to a plan and got 3 wickets in his first test. Got a corker from Anderson to end his debut test innings. Was pretty good in the field.
R Ashwin 4. Was India's 2nd highest wicket taker, but this has been a very tough series for Ashwin the bowler. Made good contributions with the bat and has the potential to move up the order.
Piyush Chawla 3. Got some wickets but never really looked threatening. Didn't make any contribution with the bat.
Pragyan Ojha 7 a decent series for Ojha who always tried very hard with the ball. The pitches didn't offer him a great deal, but he kept at it but since there was no pressure from the other end his good wicket bowling skills didn't work all that great. Applied himself with the bat and was better than many in the field.
Ishant Sharma 4. Didn't make much of an impact in the 3rd test but bowled well in the 4th.
Zaheer Khan 1 didn't do anything that was expected from the leader of the bowling unit. Fielding was pretty poor and never really offered anything with the bat in the lower order.
Umesh Yadav 8. Was pretty impressive in the only test he played. Generated speed, and he is adding more to his bowling. Hopefully he'll stay fit.
Yuvraj Singh 3 after a good start, old habits came back and was dropped.
Harbhajan Singh 2. Wasn't a deserved selection, and he proved it.
Engaldn
Alastair Cook 9. India didn't know how to get him out and he was good leading the side as well.
Nick Compton 6 Provided solid starts most of the times. Should certainly convert his starts, but unlike Gambhir, he is not an experienced test opener.
Jonathan Trott 7 Started pooorly, but came back strongly towards the latter part of the series.
Kevin Pietersen 8 Played couple of genius knocks in the 2nd and 4th tests and scored a 50 in the 3rd.
Ian Bell 4. Not much other than that last day hundred.
Joe Root 8 Fine start to test cricket.
Matt Prior 7, was his usual self with the bat, looked assured with the bat throughout the series but missed some chances behind the stumps.
Tim Bresnan 1, did nothing of note in the series.
Graeme Swann 8, was pretty good with the ball, and came in handy with the bat.
James Anderson 8 was superb in these conditons, particularly in the latter half of the series.
Monty Panesar 9, made a real impact on the series.
Stuart Broad 1 was poor with the ball and never looked like scoring runs.
Samit Patel 4, nothing spectacular with bat or ball, but some handy contributions. Didn't disgrace himself.
Jonny Bairstow 3, didn't take his chance when it came.

Stella wrote:

CF wrote:nope IMO its justified....

20 wickets in the series, leading wicket taker and was economical as well!

Fair enough mate

Take a look at his average and strike rate. Just because Ashwin and Bhaji were worse doesnt make him a 10. There was only 1 other Indian bowler who played every game, so the conetst for leadingw icket taker is highkly skewed there. Offered little to write home about in the field or with the bat.

Did well but a 10 is absurd.

In a world where Ian Bell gets 6 and Nick Compton 5 and Harbhajan Singh 4 and R Ashwin despite his batting 9, Pragyan Ojha can get 10 or more.

CF wrote:nope IMO its justified....

20 wickets in the series, leading wicket taker and was economical as well!

Didn't Swann get 20 as well?

Ojha's econcomy rates were also superb stella so all in all i was happy to give him a 10.

To be fair to Ojha and CF, Panesar and Swann were often bowling as a pair and supporting each other. Ojha didn't get that much help from the other end.

I still think 10 is too high. 8 would be about right for me ....

Swann 20 wickets at 24 plus average 32 with the bat
Ojha 20 at 31 plus average 6 with the bat ...his economy rate was only 0.24 better than Swanns....and Im not even sure that is good when India needed wickets and England were happily defending to bat out the final test. Indeed after T1 India lacked a strike bowler in this series, that their best bowler was only take a wicket every 10 overs sums it up. England worked out how to play the conditions, Ohja and the rest couldnt conjure up enough magic balls to disrupt the settled batsmen.

I know which one Id give the 9.9 to.
Indeed Swann has flown under the radar whilst others have grabbed the headlines in this series. Especially with all the talk of him being trump by Pannessar.
In the end it was a solid all round performance form the England team. Its only really Patel, Broad and Bresnan (plus Bairstow but he only had one game) who didnt significantly contribute. Even the much maligned Clucking Bell got a big score just when it was needed.
Run away man of the series was Cook, behind him a solid team and KP

India

Sehwag 4
Gambhir 3
Pujara 8
Tendulkar 2
Kohli 2
Yuvraj 2
Dhoni 2
Ashwin 4
Khan 2
Ohja 7
Sharma 2
Yadav 5
Harbajhan 2
Chawla 3
Jadeja 2

England

Cook 9.5
Compton 5
Trott 5
KP 7
Bell 3
Root 5
Prior 6
Bresnan 1
Swann 9
Anderson 8.5
Panesar 8.5
Finn 5
Patel 1
Broad 1
Bairstow 1

5 for Finn?

ShankyCricket wrote:5 for Finn?

Only played 1 test.

Duty281 wrote:

ShankyCricket wrote:5 for Finn?

Only played 1 test.

Not his fault, is it? Bowled really well. Give him points on the basis of that test or don't give him points at all. Can't give him fewer points because he played only one Test surely?

Bell 5
Ojha 7
Compton 6

I would say mostly not a lot of disagreement between people beyond a bit of doubt about how to rate players who only had one test. Also how to rate players who didn't do a lot but made one or two telling contributions. In context of series I think Bell deserves a 5. A bit fortunate to be carried by the stellar performances of others, esp Cook. But he made a really telling contribution in last test.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Bell 5
Ojha 7
Compton 6

I would say mostly not a lot of disagreement between people beyond a bit of doubt about how to rate players who only had one test. Also how to rate players who didn't do a lot but made one or two telling contributions. In context of series I think Bell deserves a 5. A bit fortunate to be carried by the stellar performances of others, esp Cook. But he made a really telling contribution in last test.

Corporal - yes but Ojha becomes an 8 when you take into account his contribution for Surrey in 2011.

England's coaches and selectors have to protect and wrap James Anderson in cotton wool during the demanding 2 ashes test series next year, because if he gets injured England really will be up the duff as Bresnan and Broad don't look good enough at present of performing in the main strike bowler role.

Stella wrote:

CF wrote:nope IMO its justified....

20 wickets in the series, leading wicket taker and was economical as well!

Didn't Swann get 20 as well?

Yes, he did, as I said earlier. CF appears to have ignored that fact, however... Ludicrous rating of 10 for Ojha.