Joe Root’s recurring vulnerability to leg‑before‑wicket dismissals and England’s inability to turn promising starts into full centuries stand out as the only blemishes on an otherwise encouraging post‑Bazball batting display, according to former England captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England piled up a massive 453 runs in their first innings, carving out a commanding lead of 320 over Pakistan.
The hosts were firmly in control and appeared well on their way to a 3‑0 series whitewash. Pakistan, meanwhile, were precariously placed at 52‑2, still trailing by 268 runs when rain intervened and halted play. "I’ve really liked the tempo of the batting in this series," Hussain said. "We talked early in the Bazball era about England playing too aggressively and missing chances.
They’ve got the tempo right now, 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 were contributing useful runs, and praised the opening partnership for its composure. "Emilio Gay’s tempo at the top of the order is exactly what English cricket has been craving – he can bat with patience, absorb pressure and still score at a healthy rate." Despite the overall positivity, Hussain highlighted 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 particular mode of dismissal. "Obviously there are two boxes they haven’t ticked," Hussain explained. "Their greatest player is struggling with one specific type of dismissal: LBW.
It’s glaringly obvious. He tried to fix it in the first innings, made a technical tweak, and then got out LBW again." Second, England’s conversion rate from half‑centuries to centuries has hit historic lows.
Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached the fifty‑run mark without pushing on to three figures. In total, the series has produced 14 half‑centuries but not 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 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 bowler Stuart Broad echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the definition of a ‘good’ score may need to be reconsidered 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.
If he’s struggling, it’s understandable that the rest of the batting line‑up also finds it tough. We can’t applaud Ollie Robinson for taking 20‑odd wickets at an average of about six and then say, ‘We should be getting 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 prompted a broader discussion about the nature of the modern game. Bazball, the aggressive, fast‑paced approach championed by England’s coaching staff, encourages positive intent and high‑risk shot‑making. While this philosophy has injected excitement and produced brisk scoring rates, critics argue that it can also lead to premature dismissals, especially when players are still adapting to the nuances of new techniques.
Root’s LBW problem, for instance, may stem from a combination of footwork issues and an over‑reliance on playing across the line. Analysts note that his recent adjustments—such as trying to get his front foot further outside the line of the ball—have not yet yielded the desired results.
Some suggest that a more measured approach, focusing on leaving deliveries outside off‑stump and playing with a slightly more upright bat, could reduce the frequency of LBW dismissals. On the conversion front, the team’s middle order has shown the ability to build partnerships, but the final push to a hundred often stalls once the score reaches the 70‑80 range. Coaches have pointed to a mental barrier: players may become overly cautious, fearing a dismissal that would erase a hard‑earned fifty.
To break this pattern, England’s coaching staff is reportedly working on scenario‑based training, simulating pressure situations where a batsman must decide whether to accelerate or consolidate. The series also highlights the impact of weather on modern cricket.
The rain‑shortened day at Edgbaston halted Pakistan’s chase, preserving England’s sizable lead and reinforcing the importance of building a substantial first‑innings total. In such conditions, the ability to bat for long periods, even without reaching a hundred, can be decisive.
Looking ahead, England will need to address both Root’s technical shortcomings and the collective habit of stopping at half‑centuries if they hope to dominate stronger opponents in future series. The coaching staff’s response—whether through targeted net work for Root, mental‑strength sessions for the batting unit, or a slight recalibration of the Bazball aggression—will be crucial.
In summary, while the post‑Bazball era has brought a refreshing tempo and a series of solid contributions from the likes of Brook, Smith, Lawrence, Gay and Robinson, the twin challenges of Root’s LBW susceptibility and the century drought remain. As Nasser Hussain succinctly put it, England can beat a modest Pakistan side with scores in the 40s to 60s, but to compete with the world’s elite, they must convert those starts into big hundreds and ensure their premier batsman can survive the LBW threat. The third Test’s day three action will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Friday, with streaming options available for those without a Sky subscription.