In all fairness, there are definite positive signs for this team - most notably that they managed to get over the line from a position that so many times in their last 17 Tests they would have pissed away.
1. 
Zak Crawley
I still don't think he particularly made the Test team on merit, and it comes to something when his averaging 26 across the Test match is being framed as a positive just because the runs were made with particularly pretty shots. And even then, he wouldn't be on my chopping block at the moment - if anything he's but the third-most vulnerable England batter.
2. Alex Lees
There's no such thing as a perfect technique, but Alex Lees looks continually loose and off-balance at the crease. Despite this, he's fought his technique to reach 20 six times running. The fact that he's not managed to pass 31 on any of those occasions is a pretty damning indictment on his ability to make big scores at Test level.
3. Ollie Pope
The new Mark Ramprakash continues to thrive at county level and flounder in Tests. I'm not against him batting at three because he hasn't batted there in first-class cricket, I'm against him batting at three because he's fidgety, frenetic and concerningly fallible against both extra pace and against spin. His 1049 runs @ 27.60 with one ton correlates closely with Ramprakash's 2,450 runs @ 27.32 with two tons from roughly twice as many Tests, and really - do we want Pope to have twice as many Tests?
4. Joe Root
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT. He looks immediately unburdened to return to the playing ranks. At no point in the game did he look like getting out, even when he did.
5. Jonny Bairstow
He gets a lot of flak for getting out bowled, but it's no worse to get out bowled than it is to get out any other way. What he needs more than anything is some clarity about his role, and with Brook breathing down his neck to bat at five and Stokes inked in at six and Foakes clinging on to his preferred number seven spot it seems entirely unlikely that there will be any clarity on that before the end of the summer.
6. Ben Stokes
He's clearly an excellent captain - that was never in doubt. Where doubts do remain are his batting form: he averages under 25 from his last 15 Tests, and the frenetic start to his second innings does little to assuage those doubts. Not that it matters - his place is set in stone, and his high risk take-down of Ajaz Patel scrambled Williamson's brain enough that the Kiwi skipper forgot how bowling changes worked at a crucial time.
7. Ben Foakes
I don't know that he really warrants his place in home Tests, but he did have a good Test and held his nerve at the most important time. I'm certainly not against Foakes continuing to hold onto his place, which he certainly will after his role in the run-chase.
8. Matty Potts
His Test debut yielded seven wickets, two catches and no runs - all in all an excellent haul despite there being absolutely no particular attribute to his bowling that should stand him out from the crowd. I'd be shocked if he's dropped for the second Test.
9. Stuart Broad
As has so often happened, he turned the game around in the space of a single over of bowling. He should probably bat above Potts though - he actually plays the short ball better.
10. Jimmy Anderson
Anderson will be opening the bowling until he's 50, won't he. He even somewhat overcame his second innings demons, which is a great bonus.
11. Matt Parkinson
It's lovely to finally see him get his Test debut and a first Test wicket, but I'd be shocked if he plays at Trent Bridge. It'll be all seam up here.
12. Jack Leach
Allow me to place an
F to pay my respects.
- - - - -
At Trent Bridge I fully expect Craig Overton to come in and create an all-seam attack. I suspect the sight of Potts being effortlessly bombed out by the short ball will resonate with the England management and encourage them to strengthen the batting at the expense of a bowling option. As for Harry Brook, I'd bring him in for Pope though I've no idea whether I'd have him batting at three or at five (and change Bairstow's role yet again). But on balance, he'll likely be on sub fielder duty again.
