Joe Root’s recurring vulnerability to leg‑before‑wicket dismissals and England’s inability to turn promising starts into full centuries were the only blemishes on an otherwise brighter post‑Bazball batting performance, according to former captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England piled together 453 runs, carving out a massive first‑innings lead of 320 over Pakistan. The hosts were firmly in command and appeared set to complete a 3‑0 series whitewash.
Pakistan, meanwhile, were reeling at 52 for 2 and still 268 runs behind when rain intervened and curtailed the day’s play. "I’ve enjoyed the tempo of the batting we’ve seen in this series," Hussain said. "Earlier in the Bazball era we warned that England were playing too hard and not capitalising on chances.
This time they have found the right rhythm, especially in the middle order with Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Gus Atkinson." He added that even bowlers such as Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer have made useful contributions with the bat, and praised the top‑order approach of Emilio Gay. "Gay plays with patience and knows when to absorb pressure. English cricket, and this side in particular, have been craving that balance." Despite the overall positivity, Hussain singled out two persistent issues that England have yet to resolve during the Pakistan series.
First, Root’s four dismissals have all come via lbw. The world’s second‑most prolific Test run‑scorer continues to wrestle with this specific mode of dismissal. "There are two boxes they haven’t ticked," Hussain explained.
"Their best player is struggling with one particular way of getting out – lbw. It’s glaringly obvious.
He tried to fix it in the first innings, made a technical tweak, and was out lbw again." Second, the team’s conversion rate from half‑centuries to full hundreds has hit historic lows. Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached the fifty‑run mark without progressing to three figures. In total, fourteen fifties have been recorded across the series, yet not a single century has been compiled – a feat not seen in an English Test series since the 1888 Ashes. "The other one is getting hundreds," Hussain added.
"You can beat Pakistan with 40s, 50s and 60s, but to beat Australia or the New Zealand side we faced earlier this summer you need big hundreds and massive scores. England just need to convert those starts into big scores." Former England paceman Stuart Broad echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the definition of a ‘good’ score may need to be re‑examined after a scorching summer that has favoured bowlers. Broad argued that on the current pitches, a score in the sixties can be as valuable as a century on a flatter surface.
"Top‑order batting has been very difficult in this series," Broad said. "Root, England’s best‑ever player, has struggled for runs in this series.
If he’s struggling, it’s understandable that the rest of the lineup also finds it tough. We can’t praise Ollie Robinson, who is taking 20‑odd wickets at an average of around six, and then say we should be making more centuries.
Honestly, this summer a 60 has felt like a hundred. You’ve had to work as hard for a 60 on these pitches as you would for a hundred on a normal Test surface." The lack of centuries has prompted broader discussion about the nature of batting in the Bazball era. While the aggressive, free‑scoring mindset has produced rapid run‑rates and dominant partnerships, the inability to push on beyond the fifty‑run plateau could prove costly against stronger opposition. Critics argue that the emphasis on tempo may sometimes come at the expense of innings‑building discipline, especially when conditions are bowler‑friendly.
Looking ahead, England will need to address both technical and mental aspects of their game. For Root, refining his foot‑work and line judgment against the ball’s trajectory could reduce the frequency of lbw dismissals. For the middle order, developing strategies to extend partnerships beyond the half‑century mark—such as rotating the strike, targeting weaker bowlers, and maintaining concentration under pressure—will be essential.
Coaches may also consider adjusting practice sessions to simulate the demanding conditions seen this summer, focusing on patience and shot selection while still preserving the attacking intent that defines Bazball. By blending aggression with resilience, England can aim to turn solid starts into match‑winning totals, especially when facing top‑class attacks from teams like Australia or New Zealand. In summary, while England’s batting has shown encouraging signs of tempo and depth, the twin challenges of Root’s lbw vulnerability and the century drought remain critical hurdles. Overcoming these will be key to converting dominant positions into decisive victories as the series progresses and as England prepares for the next set of international challenges.