Cricinfo rates England’s players following the conclusion to the one-day season
Cricinfo staff13-Jul-2005
Paul Collingwood was a star performer in the one-day season © Getty Images
Marcus Trescothick – 7
Destroying attacks one day, leaden-footed the next. That is the way with Trescothick, and always will be, but he has the ability to win games off his own bat. The hundred at Headingley was a major milestone after his boot-filling exercises against Bangladesh. He needs to find a way of releasing some pressure without resorting to ugly heaves or charging down the track.Andrew Strauss – 6
Back where he should be at the top of the order. No problems against Bangladesh but some worrying signs against Australia – they can find a weakness in any batsman. In seven matches against the Aussies he scored 134 runs; in a single knock against Bangladesh, he scored 152. This is the first significant sticky patch of his international career and his response will be crucial.Michael Vaughan – 6
A one-day season that included two fifties – one sublime, the other scratchy – and two ducks sums up Vaughan’s ODI career. He is still no nearer to finding his level in one-day cricket and the problem is taking on Nasser Hussain proportions. Quick to react in the field but rarely as a panic measure – an attribute that will be tested for the rest of the summer.Kevin Pietersen – 7
Will he? Won’t he? Goodness knows what he could have done to Bangladesh given the time, but his 91 at Bristol and 74 at The Oval have reinforced his stunning ability. It felt as if he was everywhere – both on and off the field – because he caught everything that flew his way and generally got as close to the Australians as possible. But Lee asked several off-stump questions, which weren’t always convincingly answered.Andrew Flintoff – 8
His style has turned full circle from stock to strike bowler and if a wicket is needed Vaughan throws the ball Flintoff’s way. He responded with 16 in the one-day season, but runs will be his most important contribution come the Tests. Therefore, his 87 at Lord’s was the most significant innings of the one-day season for England.Paul Collingwood – 8
Entries to the Catch-of-the-Tournament competition could have stopped as soon as Collingwood plucked Matthew Hayden’s cut out of thin air at Bristol. These one-day matches were Collingwood’s chance to shine, and he grabbed them with both hands. His Test career may be brief but he is around for the long-haul in the shorter game, in which his two innings at Lord’s proved he can be England’s middle-order rock.Geraint Jones – 7
He clung onto all his catches and responded to the pressure of scoring runs at No. 7 by taking England to the brink of an incredible win the NatWest Series final. He has also added to England’s increasingly hard-edged demeanour – never shy to have a word. It may not always be pretty but Jones has proved pretty effective.Ashley Giles – 6
The return of Giles from injury gave the England attack a more balanced appearance. He is a key figure in the minds of Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher and oozes steadiness. Australia attacked him at The Oval, hinting at what could come, but he maintained a tight line and wasn’t afraid to flight the ball. Has lost none of his resilience with the bat.
Darren Gough struggled with new ball to raise questions about his England future © Getty Images
Darren Gough – 3
Dazzler’s spark is fading and there are only so many comebacks a guy can make at 34. His inability to take wickets with the new ball put pressure on the rest of the England attack. An indomitable spirit meant he recovered well later in the innings, but the damage had often been done.Simon Jones – 6Continued to develop impressive outswing at a good pace but his most important contribution was the head-to-head with Matthew Hayden. He showed England won’t back down from a confrontation and Australia were slightly taken aback. His reverse-swing makes him the ideal candidate to bowl the death overs.Steve Harmison – 7
His five-wicket haul at Bristol set the marker for the summer. He is back and ready for the Ashes. Proved to Australia that he is a very different bowler to the one which lost his run-up at Perth. Now confident enough to bounce back from his pummelling at The Oval, but always settles better went he takes an early wicket.Vikram Solanki – 5
Was on the verge of applying for a new job as bartender before his Supersub intervention at The Oval. That half-century showcased all the flair we know he has but rarely produces on the big stage. Destined to be a perennial 12th man (or is that 13th man) but he is a useful reserve to have in the ranks.Jon Lewis – 5
Useful when it swings, less so when it doesn’t. Will take wickets against lesser opponents but is unlikely to have a prolonged international career. He gets an extra point for keeping a cool head at Bristol and will always be able to say he hit the winning runs against Australia on his home ground.Chris Tremlett – 5
Showed enough in his three appearances to reinforce his promise – but he needs to get nastier. There is a feeling that he just ‘puts’ the ball on a length at the moment and he could make better use of his height.
