England summer player ratings: Stokes, Crawley and Broad all shine but Archer and Burns struggle

England enjoyed a successful return to Test cricket this summer following the sport's coronavirus shutdown.

Playing without fans in behind-closed-doors contests inside the ECB's bio-secure bubble, Joe Root's men claimed successive series victories on home soil.

First England defied a familiar opening loss to defeat West Indies 2-1, before sealing a first series win over Pakistan for a decade as James Anderson memorably became the first non-spinner to reach 600 Test wickets.

Here, Standard Sport's cricket correspondent Will Macpherson hands out individual summer grades to each member of England's Test squad...

Rory Burns - 5

6 Tests. 254 runs at 28, 2x50

Was solid against West Indies, and struggled against Pakistan. Is embedded as a senior batsman, but this was not the summer of progress he would have hoped for.

Dom Sibley - 7

6 Tests. 324 runs at 36, 1x100, 2x50

Very steady. Had a strong series against West Indies and started well against Pakistan by giving England a platform in the great chase at Old Trafford. Two great run outs, too.

Zak Crawley - 9

4 Tests. 417 runs at 69.5, 1x100, 2x50

Even before his epic 267, was having a quietly impressive time of it. But that innings was a monstrous breakthrough that promises so much more.

Joe Denly - 4

1 Test. 47 runs

Outplayed by Crawley in the opening Test and not seen again. Did a job for England, but time was right to move on.

Joe Root - 6

5 Tests. 224 runs at 37, 1x50

A quiet summer with the bat again, but his captaincy grew. Players follow him, and England did not lose a Test after he returned from paternity leave.

Ben Stokes - 9

4 Tests. 372 runs at 62, 1x100, 1x50. 11 wickets at 14

Two superhuman Tests as an all-rounder, two human ones as a batsman, then sadly two missed to be with his family. Cricket is so much less interesting when Stokes is not around.

Ollie Pope - 6

6 Tests. 215 runs at 26.87, 2x50

Not the summer he would have imagined. And yet, he still played a vital role in setting up two victories at Old Trafford with innings of 91 and 62.

Jos Buttler - 8

6 Tests. 416 runs at 52, 1x100, 2x50

A very fine summer with the bat, capped by the highest score of his career in the final Test. His 75 at Old Trafford was even better than that, though. Missed important chances in the first Test of each series.

Chris Woakes - 8

5 Tests. 144 runs at 36, 1x50

Never underestimate Woakes. Looked leggy by the final Test but was magnificent with ball, then bat, in England’s three wins. Such a threat at home, unfortunate to bowl in the time of Anderson and Broad.

Sam Curran - 5

2 Tests. 17 runs, 4 wickets at 36

One of his matches was the wet one at the Ageas Bowl, so opportunities were very limited. Took some handy wickets when he did play.

Dom Bess - 5

6 Tests. 111 runs at 55.5, 8 wickets at 55.5

Didn’t have many lefties to bowl at, but threatened when he did. Is still a long way off, and almost certainly not England’s best spinner. He might be their best available spin-bowling package, though.

Averaged 55.5 with the bat as well as the ball, so was doing something right…

Stuart Broad - 9

5 Tests. 124 runs at 41, 29 wickets at 13.4

Just exceptional. Made his feelings clear when left out of the opener, then backed up his words in serious style. Broad will not go down without a fight; Jimmy – he’s coming for your records.

Jofra Archer - 5

4 Tests. 8 wickets at 45

Not the summer he or England would have hoped for, as he was in the headlines more for off-field reasons than on-field. Started well against West Indies (no coincidence that that was the only time he had access to the new ball?), but struggled for wickets thereafter.

Mark Wood - 5

1 Test. 2 wickets at 55

Poor Wood. Had enjoyed three brilliant Tests overseas going into this summer, earning him the opening match. Did not bowl badly and was rested for the next Test, he has not been played since.

James Anderson - 8

6 Tests. 16 wickets at 25.5

Ended the summer with a day he will never forget. Was not quite as chipper a couple of week weeks before, but was never bowling as badly as he made out.

By the summer’s end, his figures matched his performance.

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