Bob Willis gives his England ratings after Pakistan series draw

By Bob Willis, Cricket Expert & Columnist

Image: Chris Woakes was England player of the series against Pakistan

After England ended their Test summer with a drawn series against Pakistan, Bob Willis casts his eye over the performances of the hosts' players.

Chris Woakes was named as England's player of the series for his 26 wickets and useful runs down the order while Joe Root and Moeen Ali also shone, but for others it was a more challenging series.

Read on to see how Bob rated the England players...

Alastair Cook - 7/10
423 runs @ 60.42 - one hundred, three fifties

He had another good series with the bat, but I thought he made a mistake with the toss at the Oval and also his bowling changes in the last Test match left a lot to be desired.

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Alex Hales - 4/10
145 runs @ 18.12 - one fifty

He does not look temperamentally sound enough to play at the top level so I think Cook will be looking for another opening partner for the winter.

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Joe Root - 9/10
512 runs @ 73.14 - one double hundred, two fifties

Image: Joe Root made a wonderful double ton at Old Trafford

A quite brilliant 250 at Old Trafford and he got set in most of his innings. He is clearly England's best batsmen, having taken over that mantle from Alastair Cook. 

James Vince - 3/10
158 runs @ 22.57

No fifties in 11 innings at an average of under 20. He needs to go back to Hampshire to see if he can come again like Jonny Bairstow and Woakes have done.

Gary Ballance - 5/10
195 runs @ 27.85 - one fifty

Image: Gary Ballance made just one fifty on his return to the side

I don't think he is the answer in the middle order. Temperamentally, he is sound but is technically deficient and I think sides that bowl bouncers at him can force him onto the back foot, meaning he gets caught in the crease and gives catches to the wicketkeeper and slips.

Jonny Bairstow - 8/10
366 runs @ 52.28 - four fifties

His batting just gets better and better. He has a brilliant average with the bat and his keeping showed a lot of improvement, he's done much better. The dropped chances aren't quite so often but he'll still be put to the test in the winter standing up to the stumps.

Moeen Ali - 7/10
316 runs @ 63.20 - one hundred, two fifties
11 wickets @ 46.54

Image: Moeen Ali shone with the bat but had a difficult time with the ball at times

His batting has been quite brilliant in difficult situations, batting with the tail down the order - ushering the tail brilliantly with the bat. However, his bowling is clearly not up to being England's number one spinner.

Chris Woakes - 9/10
26 wickets @ 16.73 - two five-wicket hauls
177 runs @ 35.40 - one fifty

Man of the series. A brilliant performance with the ball, great control and good pace and there have been some important contributions with the bat, too. He averages over 40 for the summer as a whole. It went brilliantly for him.

Stuart Broad - 7/10
13 wickets @ 28.61

Image: Stuart Broad took 13 wickets in the series

His batting has gone into permanent decline it would appear but he's still a top class opening bowler ,although he probably didn't pick up the wickets he deserved. He suffered like the rest of the seamers with dropped catches.

Steven Finn - 5/10
Five wickets @ 70.40

He struggled at the start of the summer but got better in the last two Test matches and bowled some good spells. He probably suffered more than anybody with the drops that plagued England. I think he'll struggle to get in the side when Stokes is fit again.

James Anderson - 8/10
Nine wickets @ 25.66

Image: James Anderson remains England's top bowler, says Bob Willis

Still the leader of the attack and their best bowler. He tailed off a little bit towards the end of the summer on some flat pitches but if the ball swung then he was still a magician.

Ben Stokes - 6/10
34 runs @ 34.00
Two wickets @ 30.00

He didn't do that much in his one Test but clearly there is a big gap in the side when he isn't there, although the other all-rounders tried to fill it.

Jake Ball - 6/10
One wicket @ 88.00

Image: Jake Ball made a promising Test debut but faces real competition to get back in the side

A promising debut but with Mark Wood coming back to fitness and when Finn is fit again, there is going to be a queue of seam bowlers.

Watch England and Pakistan's five-match ODI series live on Sky Sports, starting with the opening match, at the Ageas Bowl, from 1.30pm, on Wednesday, August 24.

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