On the last day of a long season that almost extended into October, Mail Sport hands out the awards that matter.
England’s Test team saw off West Indies 3-0 and Sri Lanka 2-1, but who was the best newcomer, who played the best innings, and who bowled the best spell?
With success comes failure, and we name the worst defeat, the dodgiest selection and the biggest miss.
Plus: the players to look out for in the summers to come.
LAWRENCE BOOTH looks back on the stars and the the strugglers of the cricketing summer.
England’s Test team saw off West Indies 3-0 in July to kick off the English Test summer
Under Ollie Pope, the side then defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 but lost the final match at the Oval
On the last day of a long season that almost extended into October, Mail Sport hands out the awards that matter
Best newcomer
A toss-up. Jamie Smith looked a natural on both sides of the stumps, ending the Jonny Bairstow vs Ben Foakes debate, and scoring more Test runs (487) at a better average (48) than any England player bar Joe Root.
Gus Atkinson began with 12 wickets against West Indies at Lord’s, and took 34 in all – the most for England in a first home summer, beating Fred Trueman’s 29 in 1952. He also scored a Lord’s century against Sri Lanka.
Best innings
Smith’s 111 at Old Trafford, where England were 125 for four in reply to Sri Lanka’s 236 when he walked out to bat. But his calm 111 turned the Test in their favour.
Best spell
There was no more thrilling sight all summer than Mark Wood in full cry. And his crowning glory was a reverse-swinging burst of five for seven in 21 balls to blow away West Indies at Edgbaston.
Worst defeat
England should have swept the Test summer 6-0, but blew it spectacularly at The Oval, collapsing in their first innings, allowing Sri Lanka to recover in theirs, then batting complacently on the third afternoon.
Jamie Smith (pictured) looked a natural on both sides of the stumps, ending the Jonny Bairstow vs Ben Foakes debate
Gus Atkinson began with 12 wickets against West Indies at Lord’s, and took 34 in all – the most for England in a first home summer
There was no more thrilling sight all summer than fast bowler Mark Wood in full cry
Biggest miss
For the moment at least, Ollie Robinson is persona non grata. But can England really do without a bowler whose 76 Test wickets have cost under 23 each?
The public messaging is that he’s slipped back in the pack because of his lack of pace, but it’s an open secret that they don’t like his attitude.
Dodgiest selection
Opening in England is a perilous job, which is why Dan Lawrence’s promotion against Sri Lanka in the absence of Zak Crawley always looked optimistic. A series average of 20 confirmed the hunch.
Best tear-jerker
Admit it: your eyes watered when Jimmy Anderson said goodbye at Lord’s after taking his final Test haul to 704. It’s no less true for being a cliche, but we may never see his like again.
Biggest heartbreak
On the morning of September 14, Somerset had hopes of a domestic treble. Nine days later, they were left empty-handed, confirming their long-held status as county cricket’s nearly men.
Best signing
John Simpson left Middlesex at the age of 35 to become Sussex captain, and repaid the faith with 1,197 runs, five hundreds, 42 catches and promotion in the Championship.
For the moment at least, Ollie Robinson is persona non grata. But can England really do without a bowler whose 76 Test wickets have cost under 23 each?
Opening in England is a perilous job, which is why Dan Lawrence’s promotion against Sri Lanka in the absence of Zak Crawley always looked optimistic
Admit it: your eyes watered when Jimmy Anderson said goodbye at Lord’s after taking his final Test haul to 704
Most promising futures
Nottinghamshire’s Farhan Ahmed – the 16-year-old brother of England’s Rehan – picked up seven for 140 against Surrey at Trent Bridge, and 10 in the match with his off-breaks.
In the same game, his 19-year-old team-mate Freddie McCann made 154. And look out for Durham seamer Daniel Hogg (seven for 66) against Notts, and Archie Vaughan, son of Michael, whose off-breaks helped Somerset to a thrilling win over Surrey.
Best game
Set 593 to beat Gloucestershire at Cheltenham in early July, Glamorgan were bowled out for 592, with last man Jamie McIlroy out off the last ball of the game.
