Joe Root’s persistent vulnerability to leg‑before‑wicket dismissals and England’s inability to turn solid starts into full centuries are the only blemishes on an otherwise encouraging post‑Bazball batting display, according to former captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England piled up a massive 453 in their first innings, establishing a commanding lead of 320 runs over Pakistan. The hosts were in complete control and appeared set to complete a 3‑0 series whitewash.
Pakistan, meanwhile, were precariously placed at 52 for 2 and still 268 runs behind when rain intervened and curtailed 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 hard and missing chances. They’ve found the right rhythm 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 opening partner Emilio Gay for his measured approach at the top of the order.
"Gay knows when to take time and when to absorb pressure. English cricket, and this side in particular, have been craving that stability." Despite the many positives, Hussain singled out two specific issues that still need attention.
The first concerns Root’s string of LBW dismissals. All four of his wickets in the series have come in that manner, a worrying pattern for a player who sits second on the all‑time Test run‑scoring list. "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 obvious he’s having trouble.
He tried to fix it in the first innings, made a technical tweak, and then got out LBW again." The second concern is the historic scarcity of centuries. While several batsmen have gotten into the 50‑70 range – Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) – none have pushed on to three figures. In total, the series has produced 14 half‑centuries 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 beat Australia or the New Zealand side we saw 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 that the lack of centuries should be viewed in context. He argued that the summer’s bowler‑friendly conditions have made a score of 60 feel as valuable as a hundred on a flatter pitch.
"Top‑order batting has been very difficult in this series," Broad noted. "Root, England’s best‑ever player, has struggled for runs in this series. If he’s struggling, it’s OK for everyone else to struggle.
We can’t praise Ollie Robinson, who is taking wickets at an average of about six, and also 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 broader picture suggests that England’s aggressive, high‑tempo Bazball philosophy is bearing fruit in terms of run accumulation and pressure on opponents, but the team still lacks the conversion rate that turns solid foundations into match‑winning totals. The middle order’s ability to rotate the strike, find gaps, and accelerate when needed has been a hallmark of the recent performances, and the bowlers have complemented that with disciplined lines and lengths that have kept the Pakistani batsmen under constant threat.
Looking ahead, the challenge for England will be twofold. First, they must help Root address his technical issues against the ball’s trajectory, perhaps by tweaking his stance, foot‑movement, or bat‑angle to better judge deliveries that are on a line to hit the pads. Second, the side needs to cultivate a mindset that pushes beyond the 70‑run mark, encouraging batsmen to stay at the crease longer and build partnerships that can dominate an innings.
If England can resolve these two lingering problems, the combination of Bazball’s fearless intent and a higher conversion rate could see them not only dominate Pakistan but also pose a serious threat to stronger opposition later in the summer. The next fixtures will provide a crucial test of whether the team can turn half‑centuries into centuries and whether Root can finally silence the LBW bug that has haunted him throughout the series.
For fans wanting to follow the action, day three of the third Test between England and Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Friday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the match without a contract on NOW. All games are available live on Sky Sports.