ISHANT SHARMA- 8/10
The Indian pace spearhead Ishant Sharma bowled with speed and intent throughout the series and picked 18 wickets with a best of 5/51 in the first Test at Birmingham which India came mighty close to winning.
Ishant was always at the top of the English batsman, dismissing Alastair Cook almost every time he came to bat. He bowled with great pace and swung and moved the ball both ways with the new ball and bowled with gusto through tough spells.
It was a big tribute to his fitness that he bowled long spells in all the Tests and only broke down in the final Test, where India went in with three quicks, as England piled on the runs on India.
Ishant will be the main weapon for India in Australia and given his niggle, it would be better if he is rested a bit before the series.
JASPRIT BUMRAH- 7/10
Jasprit Bumrah was sorely missed in the ODI series that India lost 2-1, and in the first Test which India lost with a margin of a hair’s width. However, India missed him and Bhuvneshwar Kumar the most in the Lord’s Test where the conditions were perfect for both of them to run through the English batting.
But the difference became apparent when Bumrah returned in the 3rd Test at Nottingham. He picked 5/85 in the England second innings to rout them quickly as they chased 521 runs and Jos Buttler scored his maiden Test century (106).
Bumrah bowled out of his skin to pick 11 wickets in the series at an average of 25.92. He was for the first time seen bowling long spells and troubling the batsmen with both the old and new ball.
However, his habit of bowling no ball cost India once in the series and it is something that he should rectify with the help of bowling coach and the head coach, as it is becoming a bit hindrance in Bumrah being called a complete bowler.
MOHAMMAD SHAMI- 6/10
Mohammad Shami played all the five Tests and bowled at top speed at all times of the play. This is a tribute to his fitness as this was the first time he didn’t break down in middle of the series.
He picked 16 wickets in the series with a best of 4/57 and at an average of 38.87. That haul of 16 wickets should have been 20 or 21 given the number of times he beat the bat and his luck just didn’t do the justice to the way he bowled. He troubled the right-handers and left-handers with ease and bowled with top speed even at the end of the day to help India pick wickets.
Shami will definitely prove to be a big asset for India in November when India tours down under.
