Misbah towers over the rest

The comeback story to match Sourav Ganguly's: Misbah was by far Pakistan's best batsman through the series, ice-cool in crisis, which is when he usually batted. His first hundred at Kolkata was classic back-to-the-wall stuff but his second, in Bangalore, seemed inevitable from the minute he came in. Loses a mark for those dismissals at Delhi, but did little wrong otherwise.

Continued his good Test form this year, with a third fourth-innings hundred in four Tests at Kolkata. Threw away his wicket regularly but the tone of his successful innings was key: in the face of adversity and gargantuan totals, he cheerily counter-punched and set Pakistan up. Has serious issues with captaincy, which he needs to resolve for his own sake before anything else.

Judged on his wicketkeeping alone, he would be much lower. But against his favourite opponent, he played two outstanding hands, which ultimately helped saved two Tests. His keeping, however, was again poor until the very last days of the series and Pakistan need to make a decision on him now: can he play as specialist batsman or will he remain wicketkeeper-batsman?

Took his sole chance better than many thought he would, with a five-wicket haul on debut and a fine first-innings knock. Alarming lack of physical conditioning was showed up in later spells, but there is something there for Pakistan to work, especially as they desperately need an allrounder.

Will be disappointed at not going on at least twice to a bigger score, but looked nothing less than an opener throughout, comfortable in attack and soothing in defence. For Pakistan, that is bonus enough.

His commitment and his skills cannot be questioned, but his fitness really should. He was Pakistan's best bowler at Delhi, but at Kolkata and Bangalore he almost cost his side the Tests. He shouldn't have played in the second Test at all. And at 61 for 4 on the first morning at Bangalore, India wanted two things: a stunning innings from the middle, which they got, and Shoaib to go off the field with an injury, which they also got. Pakistan cannot afford going into Tests with him less than 100%.

A poor series after the glut of last year. In his defence he never really looked out of touch, getting himself out, as Yousuf pre-2006 was wont to, to poor shots. Still, managed one fine hand to help Younis save a Test but his dismissal at Bangalore captured a curiously distracted series for him.

He looked the answer to Pakistan's opening dreams every time ... until Anil Kumble came on and made him look a tailender. Has to work on that glaring flaw for word travels fast internationally. If he can rectify it, Pakistan have an opening pair to work with as a couple of decent starts in the series showed.

Like Arafat, acquitted himself far better than anyone expected, especially as a month ago, he was thought to be a Twenty20 specialist. A good debut in particular, though he fell away after. Seriously needs to develop an incoming delivery, which will add considerably to his quirky threat.

Failed to fully grasp the two chances he got. His fifty on the final day of the series was a necessary innings, but his awful, irresponsible dismissal should not be forgotten, for it sparked blind panic. He should've walked off with his head in his hands, but did so waving his bat to the crowds: priorities perhaps need addressing.

Bowled with heart and stamina throughout, though not always with luck. Still, after all these years, bowls too many gimmes per over and rarely looks like getting a wicket. Probably wouldn't have gotten this chance had others been fit. Batting, unlike his bowling, has shown commendable maturity.

One good spell at Delhi apart, Kaneria has rarely looked as stale. By series end, he had become a particularly one-dimensional bowling machine, which batsman after batsman patted away as if at nets. After a poor series against South Africa, it is time for a serious rethink, or overhaul, in his bowling and approach.

Did nothing in his only Test to suggest he is an automatic selection in the middle and the pressure is likely to increase. Fortunate that Iqbal didn't take the opportunity to bed himself in the middle order thereafter. Younis, even with his issues, still looks a better leader.