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 what Nasser Hussain describes as a markedly improved batting display in the post‑Bazball era. 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 command and appeared set to complete a 3‑0 series whitewash, with Pakistan slumping to 52‑2 and still trailing by 268 runs when rain forced an early end to play. "I’ve really enjoyed the tempo of the batting in this series," Hussain, the former England captain, said. "We talked early on in the Bazball era about England playing too aggressively and missing chances.
This time they’ve got the rhythm right, especially the middle order – Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Gus Atkinson are all playing with purpose and balance." He added that even bowlers such as Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer have contributed useful runs, and praised Emilio Gay for his measured approach at the top of the order. "Gay knows when to settle in and absorb pressure.
English cricket, and this side in particular, have been craving that kind of composure," Hussain noted. Despite the overall positivity, Hussain pinpointed two lingering issues that England must resolve if they are to dominate future opponents. The first concerns Root’s repeated LBW dismissals.
All four of his wickets in the match have come via leg‑before‑wicket, a troubling pattern for a player who sits second on the all‑time Test run‑scoring list. "There are two boxes they haven’t ticked," Hussain explained. "Their greatest batsman is battling one specific mode of dismissal – LBW.
It’s glaringly obvious. He tried to adjust his technique after the first innings, but the problem re‑emerged in the second. The second concern is the historic scarcity of centuries. Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached the half‑century mark without converting to three‑figure scores.
In total, fourteen fifties have been recorded across the series, yet not a single hundred has been made – a feat not seen in an English Test series since the 1888 Ashes. "The other box is converting those starts into hundreds," Hussain said. "You can beat Pakistan with 40s, 50s and 60s, but to take on Australia or the New Zealand side we faced earlier, you need big hundreds and massive totals. England simply need to turn those solid platforms into big scores." Former England 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 favoured bowlers.
Broad argued that on the current pitches, a score in the sixties can be as valuable as a century on flatter surfaces. "Top‑order batting has been very difficult in this series," Broad remarked. "Root, our best ever player, has struggled for runs. If he’s finding it tough, it’s understandable that the rest of the lineup is also having a hard time." Broad cautioned against unrealistic expectations, pointing out that bowler Ollie Robinson is taking wickets at an astonishing average of around six runs per wicket, yet the team is still being urged to produce more centuries.
"Honestly, this summer a 60 has felt like a hundred. You have to work as hard for a 60 on these pitches as you would for a hundred on a typical Test surface," he said. The broader context of England’s batting evolution under the Bazball philosophy is worth noting.
Since the appointment of coach Brendon McCullum and the adoption of an aggressive, positive mindset, England has embraced a faster scoring rate and a willingness to take calculated risks. This shift has produced spectacular innings, such as Harry Brook’s explosive 75 and Jamie Smith’s composed 69, but it has also exposed technical frailties, particularly against quality spin and swing that can exploit over‑aggressive footwork. Root’s LBW troubles exemplify this tension: his natural instinct to drive and dominate can leave him vulnerable to deliveries that catch him in line, especially on pitches offering seam movement. Looking ahead, England’s challenge will be to blend the fearless intent of Bazball with the discipline required to build marathon innings.
Coaches will likely focus on refining Root’s stance and bat‑ball alignment to reduce the LBW risk, while also encouraging middle‑order players to push beyond the fifty‑run barrier. The mental aspect cannot be overlooked; players must cultivate the belief that a half‑century is a stepping stone, not an endpoint, especially when the series narrative emphasizes conversion rates.
In summary, Nasser Hussain applauds the improved tempo and collective contributions of England’s batting unit, but he stresses that the team must address Root’s LBW susceptibility and the historic lack of centuries if they hope to translate solid starts into match‑winning totals. Stuart Broad’s perspective adds that, given the bowler‑friendly conditions this summer, scores in the sixties are commendable, yet the ambition for big hundreds remains essential for success against top‑tier opposition. As the third Test at Edgbaston moves toward its conclusion, England’s ability to adapt, convert and overcome these highlighted shortcomings will determine whether the Bazball experiment matures into sustained dominance on the world stage.