England-Pakistan team of the series

Cricket.com.au's Team of the Series:

Openers: Alastair Cook and Azhar Ali

Cook: 423 runs at 60.42, Azhar:295 runs at 42.14

Cook and Azhar take on the new ball for our combined XI. The England captain was again the backbone for his side, passing 50 four times in eight innings, including a century at Old Trafford. Cook also scored at a good clip this series; his strike-rate of 67.40 was the highest among the top four leading run-scorers. Azhar partners him at the top of the order, his 139 at Edgbaston just helping him edge out impressive young opener Sami Aslam, who made twin half-centuries at the same venue.

3. Joe Root

512 runs at 73.14

Root underlined his standing as one of the world's finest young batsmen with his magnificent 254 at Old Trafford.

At the insistence of coach Trevor Bayliss, the 25-year-old moved up to first drop earlier this northern summer and it's paid dividends, with his 512 runs against Pakistan making him the series' leading run-scorer.

4. Younis Khan

340 runs at 48.57

After looking out of sorts in the first three Tests, the Pakistan veteran slots into No.4 on the back of his majestic double-ton at The Oval. 

It was the sixth time Younis has passed 200 with the knock propelling him to fourth on the run-scorers charts for the series. Finishing with an average just under 50 from the four Tests, the 38-year-old proved class is permanent.

5. Misbah-ul-Haq (c)

282 runs at 40.28

The evergreen Misbah continued to defy his years against England, serenely dabbing and flicking his way to 282 runs for the series. His century at Lord's prompted the now-famous push-up celebration, sure to be the enduring image of this series.

The respect the 42-year-old commands as leader undoubtedly made Pakistan a more formidable side against their more-fancied opponents. While Cook's tactical nous was also on show in the field for England, Misbah takes the captaincy reins for our team of the series.

6. Moeen Ali

316 runs at 63.20 and 11 wickets at 46.54

Moeen has had no shortage of critics in recent times, especially in light of fellow tweaker Yasir Shah's two match-winning performances against England. But the bearded allrounder was vital for the hosts with the bat, following up a pair of half-centuries in Birmingham with a stunning hundred in the fourth Test. And, in spite of his doubters, he continues to pick up key wickets with his off-spin, albeit a little expensively, snaring 11 wickets across the four matches.   

7. Sarfraz Ahmed (wk)

193 runs at 32.16 and 15 dismissals

While Jonny Bairstow appears to be improving as a wicketkeeper and his four 50s comfortably saw him eclipse his Pakistan counterpart's numbers with the bat, Sarfraz's reliability behind the pegs gets him the nod. The Pakistan gloveman snaffled a number of tough chances throughout the series and his work up to the stumps to Yasir was particularly impressive. As a pure 'keeper, few in international cricket can match Sarfraz.

8. Chris Woakes

26 wickets at 16.73 and 177 runs at 35.40

The home side's Player of the Series delivered the kind of performances England have hoped for ever since he made his debut in the 2013 Ashes. Woakes looks to have found an extra yard of pace yet has sacrificed none of the movement and accuracy that were already strong features of his bowling. The 27-year-old was by far the most impressive seamer from either side this series, reflected in his position at the top of the wicket-taking charts. Plus, his ability with bat in hand provides England with another all-round option.

9. Yasir Shah

19 wickets at 40.73

Two series-defining efforts sandwiched a lean second and third Tests for the enthusiastic leg-spinner. After his 10 wickets at Lord's, England looked to have found a method for coping with Yasir, playing in his first Test series outside of Asia. But he struck back at The Oval, ripping through England's top-order to all-but seal victory for the tourists in the final Test. The late-comer to international cricket was proclaimed by some as the best leggie since Shane Warne during this series. What better way to prove it when Pakistan tour Australia this summer?

 

10. Sohail Khan

13 wickets at 25.00

After claiming a five-wicket haul in his first Test in nearly five years at Edgbaston, Sohail then repeated the dose at The Oval with another five-for. The quick, whose training methods as a youngster in Pakistan consisted of lifting oil cans filled with cement, swimming upstream over lengthy distances and hurling rocks, impressed with his nippy pace and lifting effort-balls. The 32-year-old came into the series with one Test wicket at 245 but finished it as a key plank of the Pakistan attack.

11. Stuart Broad

13 wickets at 28.61

Broad wasn’t at his devastating best but the right-armer still managed to snare 13 wickets at 28. Despite being short of rhythm, the experienced fast-bowler found ways to deliver inexpensive, pressure-building spells for England. Broad’s economy means he just edges out Mohammad Amir for the final bowling slot, with the Pakistan left-armer finishing with one less wicket than Broad, though the five catches that went down off Amir's bowling meant he was painfully unlucky in his redemption series.