Sky Cricket pundit bowled over by Morgan and Wood... and, of course, Bairstow!
Saturday 20 June 2015 23:28, UK
Together they've put the feel-good factor back in English cricket by beating New Zealand 3-2 in a five-match ODI series.
But how highly does Sky Cricket expert Nick Knight rate the contributions of each of the players in the squad? Here are his England player ratings...
Alex Hales – 7/10
Not only has he got a couple of half-centuries under his belt, but he also looks in good order technically compared to when he came into the side last summer. He has shown glimpses of his awesome talent against a pretty good attack and I get the sense he is enjoying this new, aggressive culture in the dressing room. I’m sure Alex will take a lot from this series.
Jason Roy – 5/10
Jason has got some starts without going on to make a real significant contribution. There is lots I like and admire about him and I certainly think he is the right guy at the top of the order and someone to be stuck with, even though there are one or two technical things he’ll have to work on to bring more consistency. I think he is going to become a very good player.
Joe Root – 8/10
He has responded well to the No 3 spot with two centuries and now knows how to play a variety of roles. He can get you out of trouble playing orthodox cricket and has this incredible knack of finding the gaps in the field and running hard, while there is also some power to his game as well. I think he would be so much fun to bat with and he will be around for a very long time.
Eoin Morgan – 9/10
I always wanted Eoin batting for the lion’s share of England’s innings and he has prospered now he is. It is always vital that your captain makes telling contributions and he has, what with passing fifty in every innings bar his last and smashing one hundred. Morgan has reminded everyone what a class player he is and led from the front as England embark on a new era.
Ben Stokes – 7/10
I like what England have done with Ben in pushing him up the order as he is more of a batting all-rounder than a bowling one. I expect him to thrive with the responsibility of batting at five going forward. He is still the fifth member of the attack in my mind, though, but he is improving and I though he bowled very well on his home track in the fifth ODI.
Jonny Bairstow – 9/10
Talk about taking your chance! He was quite fantastic at Durham after getting a surprise opportunity and it will be hard to leave him out now. Jonny is a lad with a magnificent amount of talent and having gone away and worked on a few things at Yorkshire, he looks to have got even better. England are so well stocked in the wicketkeeper-batsman department at the moment.
Jos Buttler – 8/10
You get very excited watching this lad play cricket. He can be incredibly dangerous but I thought he was very clever in the first ODI at Edgbaston when, with England slipping to 200-6, he assessed the match situation and then got them to a ridiculous score of in excess of 400 with a sublime hundred. It’s just a shame that a hand injury ruled him out of the last game.
Sam Billings – 7/10
He’s had a quiet time but it’s not easy batting at seven as often the players above you have made significant contributions. There have been glimpses, especially at Southampton when he played some real innovative shots and he has fielded very well, too. A player worth persevering with.
Adil Rashid – 7/10
I said before the series that he should be judged on wickets taken and he has taken a few of those. He will go the distance from time to time against opposition as good as New Zealand, but you have to accept that because he is always capable of getting someone out. Talented with the bat also.
David Willey – 7/10
He didn’t start the series in the side but has done well since coming in, swinging the new ball and giving England a different angle with his left-armers, as evidenced by him dragging the ball across Ross Taylor at Durham. Looks the right sort of character as well.
Mark Wood – 9/10
I have been mightily impressed. England have been searching for a bowler who can make a difference in the middle overs, something Wood has done and can continue to do with his extra pace. He has only taken two wickets but those figures don’t do him justice as he got rid of Brendon McCullum at crucial junctures on a couple of occasions and added cutting edge.
Steve Finn – 7/10
He ends the series with disproportionate figures considering how well he has bowled. His run-up looks smooth after previous issues in that area and there is real rhythm and consistency to his game. I have been impressed.
Liam Plunkett – 8/10
I enjoyed watching Plunkett both bowl with searing pace and clear the ropes with the bat before he got a niggle. He is 30 years of age now but that is often the time where you know your game best and are performing at your highest level, so I think his immediate future is bright.
Chris Jordan – 5/10
Chris didn’t make a major impression before he picked up his injury, but I still think he is finding his role and trying to establish what exactly England want him to be. He has talent with ball, bat and certainly in the field, though, so needs to remain in the one-day set-up at least.
Do you agree with Nick's marks? Let us know using the feedback form below (skysports.com only) or via Twitter @SkyCricket
