ByTimothy AbrahamBBC Sport journalist
- Published50 minutes ago
England have wrapped up victory over Pakistan in the third Test by eight wickets to seal a 3-0 series win.
Here’s how the players rated at Edgbaston.
England
Emilio Gay – 6 – A gritty Test-best of 60 in tricky batting conditions in the first innings looked to have gone some way towards securing his place on the plane for a winter tour of South Africa, only for a duck next time round to bring back some uncertainty. (Series – 6)
Ben Duckett – 2 – A miserable end to the summer for the opener who will now come under some scrutiny. Made 11 and zero in this match and finishes this three-Test series well down the averages with a disappointing 44 runs at 8.8. (Series – 2)
Jordan Cox – 7 – A cheap dismissal in the first innings but made a nerveless unbeaten 59 to take the sting out of Pakistan after a wobble in the chase. A particularly impressive effort with the gloves – taking five dismissals – after being called upon to keep following Jamie Smith’s injury may have given the selectors food for thought in the role. (Series – 7)
Joe Root – 7 – Question marks over his captaincy during Pakistan’s second innings, but got England over the line with 62 not out. A 10th lbw in 14 innings suggests a technical issue which still needs to be ironed out by England’s all-time leading run-scorer. (Series – 7)
Harry Brook – 7 – Batted with real discipline and focus at a time when Pakistan had a foothold in the game on day one. His most mature Test knock this year. Ran himself out on 75 when a century beckoned but forgivable given the application he showed earlier. Finishes as leading run-scorer in the series with 215 runs at 53.75. (Series – 8)
Dan Lawrence – 7 – Having been shunted around the order the Surrey all-rounder batted with the kind of confidence to suggest he might deserve a sustained run in the middle during a measured 65. Bowling underused but a not-too-shabby batting average of 46.75 will help his winter touring prospects. (Series – 7)
Jamie Smith – 6 – Not quite back to his fluent best but will be satisfied to notch up useful half-centuries in consecutive Tests. Kept reasonably well in Pakistan’s first innings before a finger injury kept him off the field in the second. (Series – 6)
Gus Atkinson – 6 – Wicketless in the first innings and it initially looked like it was going to be another hard-luck tale. However, he shook off the weariness and a change to the City End allowed him to pocket three wickets to lighten his mood. (Series – 5)
Jofra Archer – 7 – Took a bit of tap in the second innings but bowled with plenty of zip and aggression throughout. A brutal ball to dismiss Saud Shakeel was a reminder of his menace. England will be desperate to keep him fit and firing during a pivotal 12 months. (Series – 8)
Ollie Robinson – 8 – Is there anyone better with a Dukes ball in English conditions? Another masterclass in control. England’s tone-setter finishes the series with 21 wickets at a miserly 8.76. A breezy half-century on day two also entertained the crowd. (Series – 9)
Josh Tongue – 7 – Mopped up the tourists’ lower order in the first innings with 4-42. Healthy returns in all three Tests – 19 wickets in all – and continues to look a vital cog in the machine. (Series – 8)
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Pakistan
Azan Awais – 7 – Still finding his feet at Test level. Made a battling 59 off 84 balls in the second innings, after Pakistan were reduced to 0-2, and looks a player worth persisting with.
Saim Ayub – 1 – Called up for this Test after wholesale changes to the Pakistan side and looked drastically undercooked having not played a first-class fixture since October last year. Almost inevitably he bagged a pair. Scrapes a point for leaving the CPL at the drop of a hat to turn up.
Abdullah Shafique – 1 – Two half-centuries in the series but under leaden skies he was easy meat for Robinson and snared by the Sussex slayer for three and nought.
Shan Masood – 8 – A tame dismissal in the first innings but rolled up his sleeves second time around as he manufactured a composed and defiant 95 to top score for the tourists.
Babar Azam – 6 – Provided a reminder that with bat in hand, on his day, he is up there with the best players in the world to watch. A classy 76 was too little, too late, and as a polarising figure in Pakistan cricket might feel the heat in his role as captain.
Saud Shakeel – 6 – Rode his luck on occasions as he top-scored in the first innings with 43 then made 29 before being on the end of rasping bouncer from Archer. Finished Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the series with 204 at 34.00.
Ghazi Ghori – 2 – A largely unremarkable debut with the bat – scores of four and 16 – and struggled keeping wicket when he had to stand up to the stumps for large periods, leaking 18 byes.
Mohammad Imran – 6 – The most economical of Pakistan’s bowlers who brought some vital control to curtail England’s free scoring.
Razaullah Khan – 9 – A star is born. The 21-year-old brought a bit of bite to the Pakistan attack and was reminiscent of a young Waqar Younis as he took 4-148 in the first innings. Yet it was a mesmerising innings of 81 with the bat, featuring a joint-best nine sixes, which left an indelible impression.
Mohammad Ali – 5 – Hunted for wickets and beat the bat on a number of occasions but lacked the necessary consistency and control. Needs to iron out his no-ball issue which cost him Root’s wicket in the second innings.
Muhammad Abbas – 7 – Pakistan’s ‘Mr Dependable’ kept stoically plugging away as he shouldered much of the bowling burden for the tourists at the age of 36. Made useful lower-order runs to help force England to bat again, then got the ball talking on day four to give the hosts a fright.