Joe Root’s tendency to fall victim to leg‑before‑wicket decisions and England’s inability to turn solid starts into full centuries were the only blemishes on an otherwise improved batting display in the post‑Bazball era, according to former England captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England piled up a massive 453 runs in their first innings, establishing a dominant lead of 320 over Pakistan. The hosts were firmly in control and appeared set to complete a 3‑0 series whitewash. Pakistan, meanwhile, found themselves precariously placed at 52 for 2, still trailing by 268 runs when rain forced a halt to play.
"I’ve really enjoyed the tempo of the batting in this series," Hussain said. "We talked early on in the Bazball period about England playing too hard and missing 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 contributed useful runs, and praised opening batsman Emilio Gay for his measured approach.
"Gay sets the tempo at the top, bats with patience and knows when to absorb pressure. English cricket, and this side in particular, have been craving that stability," Hussain noted. Despite the overall positivity, Hussain identified two persistent issues that England have yet to resolve during the Pakistan series.
The first concerns Root’s repeated dismissals. All four of his wickets in the match have come via LBW, a pattern that is worrying for the world’s second‑most prolific Test run‑scorer. "Obviously there are two boxes they haven’t ticked," Hussain explained.
"Their greatest player is struggling with one specific mode of dismissal – LBW. It’s glaring.
He tried to adjust his technique after the first innings, but he was caught LBW again." The second problem is the historic scarcity of centuries. While Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached the half‑century mark, none have gone on to convert those knocks into three‑figure scores. In total, the series has produced 14 fifties without a single hundred – a feat not seen in an English Test series since the 1888 Ashes.
"The other one is getting hundreds," Hussain said. "You can beat Pakistan with 40s, 50s and 60s, but to defeat Australia or the New Zealand side we saw earlier, you need big hundreds and massive scores. England just need to convert those starts into big scores." Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the definition of a "good" score may need to be reassessed after a scorching summer that has favored bowlers. Broad argued that on the current pitches, a score of 60 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. If he’s struggling, it’s understandable that others find it hard too. We can’t praise Ollie Robinson for taking 20‑odd wickets at an average of about 6.00 and then demand more centuries.
To be honest, 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 sparked a broader conversation about the evolving nature of Test cricket. Analysts point out that the modern game places a premium on aggressive intent, especially under the Bazball philosophy championed by England’s coaching staff. While this approach has yielded brisk scoring rates and dominant positions, it also creates pressure to convert momentum into big, match‑defining innings.
Critics argue that the emphasis on rapid run‑making can sometimes lead to premature dismissals, particularly for players like Root who are accustomed to a more classical, accumulation‑based style. Root’s LBW problem, in particular, may stem from a combination of technical and tactical factors. Video analysis shows that he has been offering a thin line outside off‑stump to deliveries that are swinging back into him, a classic setup for an LBW.
In response, coaches have suggested he either play with a slightly more upright stance or adjust his footwork to get deeper into the crease, thereby giving himself more time to see the ball’s trajectory. However, making such adjustments in the middle of a high‑stakes Test can be challenging, and the repeated dismissals suggest the issue is not yet resolved. Meanwhile, the middle order’s ability to build partnerships has been a bright spot.
Brook’s 75, Smith’s 69, Lawrence’s 65 and Gay’s 60 were all part of a series of stands that kept England’s total robust. Their collective effort has helped the team maintain pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers, who, despite being labeled a weaker attack, have produced moments of genuine threat, especially through the swing of Jofra Archer and the seam movement of Josh Tongue.
Looking ahead, England will need to address both the technical flaws that are causing Root’s LBW woes and the mental approach required to push on after reaching a half‑century. The coaching staff may consider employing scenario‑based training sessions that simulate the pressure of converting a 70‑run knock into a hundred, reinforcing concentration and shot selection in the later stages of an innings.
In addition, the team could benefit from a more flexible batting order, allowing players like Gay, who has shown composure at the top, to anchor the innings while giving the more aggressive middle‑order batsmen the freedom to accelerate. Such a strategy could help balance the need for stability with the desire for rapid scoring, a hallmark of the Bazball era.
Overall, while England’s batting has shown a pleasing tempo and the ability to dominate opposition bowlers, the twin issues of Root’s LBW susceptibility and the century drought remain critical talking points. If addressed, they could transform England’s already formidable batting line‑up into a truly relentless force capable of posting massive totals and securing series victories against any opponent.