England vs Pakistan Test series: Combined XI

MIDDLE ORDER

#3 Joe Root

Once again, Root showed why he is rated so highly in the cricketing circles as one of the future greats, scoring a well compiled 254 at Old Trafford. With quick runs required in the second innings, he changed gears to make a quick-fire 48-ball 71.

With 512 runs in the series, he was the leading run-getter, also becoming the fourth youngest to get to 4000 career Test runs. His prowess with the bat is highlighted by the fact that no one has scored more than him since his debut.

#4 Younis Khan

The 38-year old did not have a terrific start to the series, but ended it with a bang, proving why he is counted as one of the best batsmen to have emerged from his country. Although he did not score a single 50, his 218 in the last Test took him to the top of the run charts for Pakistan in the series.

The series-equalling double ton was his sixth overall, bringing him on level terms with Javed Miandad for most double hundreds for Pakistan. He also rose to fifth in the ICC Test rankings.

#5 Misbah-ul-Haq

He entered the series with whispers of this being his final hurrah in Tests. However, he brushed aside all retirement talks in typical fashion, scoring a ton in the first Test to become the oldest captain to score a century in the history of the game.

Apart from the century, and the subsequent push-up celebrations at Lord’s, Misbah scored two more fifties to maintain his average over 50 in the series.

#6 Jonny Bairstow

Although his skills behind the stumps is still a work in progress, Bairstow has shown how integral a component he is in the batting lineup for England. He is only 54 runs short of Andy Flower’s record for most runs by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year, and he has five Tests to achieve the same.

He scored four half-centuries in the series, and although he couldn’t get to the three-figure mark against Pakistan, he scored a total of 752 runs in the two recent series, averaging 75.30.