England wrapped up a clean‑sweep of Pakistan on home soil with an eight‑wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston, but the triumph raised several questions about individual performances and future selections. The series has been a roller‑coaster for many, with some players cementing their places and others left on the fringe. Joe Root’s opening partner, the young left‑hander Haseeb Duckett, endured a forgettable Test. His 17 at Lord’s proved to be his highest score of the series, and he struggled to make an impact with the bat.
Despite this, Duckett did manage England’s sole Test century of the summer against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, a knock that temporarily safeguarded his spot at number three. For now, his place at the top of the order remains secure, but the margin for error is thin. Duckett’s fielding was equally shaky.
He dropped three catches in the slips, two of which came in the first innings when Pakistan were bundled out for a modest 133 in just 33.5 overs. Those errors were not costly in that particular innings, but they highlighted a vulnerability that the England management will be keen to address.
The selection debate surrounding Durham’s left‑handed batsman, Ben Gay, has been ongoing. Gay appeared to solidify his claim to a Test spot with a gritty half‑century in the first innings – his third fifty of the summer – but a duck in the second innings reopened the discussion. The situation becomes more complex with the likely return of the injured all‑rounder Jacob Bethell, who could provide a similar skill set and threaten Gay’s position.
Mohammad Abbas delivered a superb spell in Pakistan’s second innings, preventing the visitors from gaining momentum. However, his earlier dismissal – a wide ball that ricocheted off his stumps after a mis‑timed pull – was a painful reminder of how close he came to a maiden Test hundred. Similarly, the fortunes of bowler‑batsman Jack Cox have swung dramatically. After a low first‑innings score, dismissed lbw by Abbas, Cox rebounded with a calm, unbeaten half‑century alongside captain Joe Root on the fourth morning.
Their partnership rescued England from a precarious 2‑2 position and steered the team to a comfortable win. Cox’s composure under pressure impressed Root, who is searching for resilient characters to build the side around.
Cox also kept wickets in the second innings, standing in for the injured Jamie Smith. He claimed four catches and a stumping, including the dismissal that finally ended Razaullah’s marathon innings. His versatility – contributing with bat, ball, and gloves – makes him a strong candidate for a regular Test berth. Root himself delivered the captain’s innings England needed.
His unbeaten 65 on day four, only his third fifty of a disappointing summer, quelled fears of a late‑order collapse. The win marked England’s first home series whitewash over Pakistan and was Root’s first series victory as the permanent Test skipper.
Yet his struggles with lbw dismissals persisted; Razaullah bowled him out on just his fourth ball of the innings, taking Root’s total to eight lbw dismissals in ten summer Test innings. Root also moved ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith in the race for the most catches by a non‑wicket‑keeper in Test cricket, now sitting on 220 catches. Opening bowler Ollie Robinson, who missed a chance at a first‑innings century after an unfortunate run‑out, has been England’s most consistent batsman in the challenging conditions this summer.
His fifth half‑century came against Pakistan, and he has managed to start each innings with at least 20 runs, except for two occasions. While a Test hundred still eludes him, his increased responsibility with the bat is a positive sign, especially after critics accused him of reckless shot‑selection in the Bazball era.
Robinson also shone with the ball, taking three wickets in the first innings and finishing with a series tally of 21 wickets at an average of 6.66 in the first innings and 8.76 overall. His strike rate dipped in longer spells, raising concerns about his effectiveness on flatter surfaces like those expected in South Africa and the upcoming Ashes, but his overall impact this summer has been undeniable. He added a second Test fifty with the bat, further underlining his all‑round value. Bowler‑all‑rounder Mark Lawrence continued to press for a permanent spot.
He produced a spectacular one‑handed diving catch in the slips to dismiss Shan Masood just short of a century and claimed two wickets in his 4.4 overs of second‑innings bowling, breaking a 125‑run partnership between Masood and Azan Awais. Lawrence’s off‑spin was under‑utilised, yet his ability to contribute in all three departments makes him a valuable squad member, especially as England looks to balance a four‑pronged pace attack with spin options for the South African tour. Wicket‑keeper‑batsman Ben Smith, sidelined by a thumb injury in the second innings, was praised for his keeping when he did play, but his injury limited his involvement.
He is likely to return for the South Africa series if fit. Fast bowler James Atkinson endured a tough series, taking only one wicket before the second innings. Despite modest figures, his performances often came as a second‑change bowler, supporting the strike bowlers.
Root gave him a longer spell on day three when Pakistan were 184‑3, and Atkinson responded with an eight‑over burst that yielded the wicket of Masood, showing his potential when entrusted with responsibility. Bowler Sam Tongue delivered a trademark performance in the first innings, claiming three of his four wickets with precision – a yorker that dismissed Babar Azam, a toe‑crushing delivery that removed Imran Tahir, and a sharp short ball that sent Saud Shakeel back. Although his economy rose in the second innings, his partnership with Archer in delivering short‑pitched bouncers proved effective until Razaullah’s onslaught.
Overall, England’s summer has been encouraging. The pace quartet has provided consistency, and the emergence of versatile players like Cox, Lawrence, and Robinson offers depth for the challenges ahead, including the upcoming tour of South Africa and the next Ashes series.