LAWRENCE BOOTH’S RATINGS: England have a serious talent in Harry Brook and Ben Stokes is ‘heroic’

Ben Stokes and England made good on their intentions to force a result against Pakistan with a stunning 74-run victory at Rawalpindi on Monday, thanks to stunning performances from Zak Crawley, Ollie Robinson, Harry Brook and Stokes himself.

Opener Crawley made 172 runs across two innings to make good on the faith shown in him over the summer, while Brook starred for England with 240 from 181 balls in the Test, including eight sixes. 

With the ball Robinson excelled in conditions that ought not to have suited him and Stokes was his usual inspirational self in every facet of the game, despite not having the best Test of his life according to the figures. 

Here are LAWRENCE BOOTH’S ratings for the first Test in batting order. 

England forced a 74-run win over Pakistan rather than try to play for a draw in Rawalpindi

Zak Crawley  – 9 

Zak Crawley was stylish in his batting by making 172 from just 159 balls in the Test match

Contributed 172 stylish runs from 159 balls, vindicating England’s decision to stick with him after a difficult summer. Clearly loves batting against Pakistan.

Ben Duckett – 8

A first-ball duck in the second innings didn’t remove too much gloss from his century in the first, full of cheeky sweeps in his first Test for six years. 

Added 233 with Crawley in an alliance full of contrasts.

Ollie Pope – 8.5

Now averages 41 at No 3, having never batted there before the Stokes/McCullum era. 

A classy century was supplemented by some neat keeping in an emergency after Ben Foakes’s late withdrawal.

Joe Root – 7.5

The only one of the top five to miss out on a first-innings century, Root was impishly brilliant while making 73 in the second, even taking guard as a left-hander. 

On and off the field regularly to be sick.

Harry Brook – 9.5

Magnificent, even prompting assistant coach Paul Collingwood to label him a ‘powerful Joe Root’. 

Harry Brook was dubbed a ‘powerful Joe Root’ by assistant coach Paul Collingwood in Pakistan

Flat pitch or not, haul of 240 from 181 balls with eight sixes was outstanding. England have found a serious talent.

Ben Stokes – 9

Who cares if he made 41 and nought, and took just one wicket? 

His belief and passion drove England throughout this astonishing game, and his 11-over spell between lunch and tea was typically inspirational.

Ben Stokes only took one wicket and made 41 runs but drove his team forward throughout

Liam Livingstone – 4

His Test debut did not go as planned. Out for nine in the first innings, he damaged his knee in the field and was unable to bowl. On his way home today.

Will Jacks – 7.5

Only learned he was making his Test debut on the morning of the game, hit a quick 30, then took six first-innings wickets to earn England a lead. He’ll never forget this.

Ollie Robinson – 9

A year ago, Robinson would have struggled to get through the last day. Here, he was heroic, in conditions that ought not to have suited him. 

His wickets of Agha Salman and Azhar Ali after tea were crucial.

Ollir Robinson took four wickets in the second innings, including Azhar Ali and Agha Salman

Jack Leach – 6.5

He took three expensive wickets, but will never claim a more memorable one than Naseem Shah, clinching victory as the sun began to set.

James Anderson – 9

Second-innings figures of four for 36 from 24 overs on that pitch were simply ridiculous. And that was after being denied the new ball. 

At 40, the old dog keeps learning new tricks.

Pakistan

Abdullah Shafique 8, Imam-ul-Haq 8.5, Azhar Ali 7, Babar Azam 8, Saud Shakeel 7, Mohammad Rizwan 6, Agha Salman 7, Naseem Shah 7, Haris Rauf 5, Zahid Mahmood 3, Mohammad Ali 4.

Naseem Shah (centre-right) was Pakistan’s second-most economical bowler in the Test