England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, overcoming a nervous start to chase down a modest target of 130 on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of a loss seemed far‑fetched when Ollie Robinson rattled the visitors early, reducing Pakistan to 0‑2 on the second evening while they still trailed by 320 runs. Yet the situation appeared precarious again when England lost two wickets in the very first over of the fourth morning.
Ben Duckett, who had endured a difficult series, was dismissed on the first ball of the innings, caught by Mohammad Abbas (2‑27). The very next delivery saw Emilio Gay fall lbw, leaving England in a precarious position at the start of their chase. Any fears of a catastrophic collapse were quickly allayed by captain Joe Root, who, despite being listed as not out on 62, forged a composed half‑century. Root partnered with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed an unbeaten 59, and together they built an unbroken 128‑run stand that steered England to victory in just 24.2 overs.
The match statistics tell the story in detail. Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs in their first innings, with Saud Shakeel top‑scoring with 43 and Mohammad Abbas adding 21.
England’s bowlers – Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25) – shared the spoils. England responded strongly, amassing 453 all out in 89 overs.
Harry Brook led the way with 75, Jamie Smith contributed 69, Dan Lawrence made 65, Emilio Gay added 60 and Ollie Robinson, batting at number six, surprised with a quick‑fire 50. Pakistan’s lone bright spot with the ball was Razaullah, who claimed 4‑148.
In the second innings Pakistan posted 449 all out in 96.4 overs. Shan Masood’s 95 anchored the innings, while Razaullah exploded with an aggressive 81 off just 63 balls, matching Tim Southee’s debut record for sixes. Babar Azam made 76 and Azan Awais added 59. England’s Gus Atkinson took 3‑109.
Chasing 130, England lost two early wickets but Root and Cox steadied the ship. Their partnership ensured England reached the target with eight wickets in hand, finishing at 130‑2.
A key moment that could have altered the outcome came when Mohammad Ali overstepped while bowling at Root, delivering a no‑ball that allowed the captain to continue his innings when England were 35‑2. That extra delivery proved vital in preserving the chase. Cox’s half‑century will bolster his case for retaining a place in the side when England head to South Africa for a three‑match series starting 17 December.
The team also anticipates the return of Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury. There is speculation whether Bethell or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay, who has been a regular at the top of the order. If Gay remains opener, Cox could still feature as a backup wicket‑keeper, a role currently filled by Jamie Smith, who missed the second innings due to a finger injury.
Smith is expected to have three months to recover fully. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a sub‑130 total – a feat not achieved in England since the 1997 Ashes when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104. The last time a team successfully defended 130 or fewer in England was New Zealand’s 93‑run total against England in 1993 at Hamilton, though that was on foreign soil.
Despite a largely disappointing tour, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test by extending the contest to the fourth day and posting a target that gave England a moment’s pause. Young paceman Razaullah emerged as a standout, dismissing England’s all‑time leading run‑scorer Joe Root early in the first innings and later delivering a four‑wicket haul. His 81‑run blitz, featuring nine sixes, will be remembered as a highlight of the series. Overall, England deserved the 3‑0 series result, marking a triumphant return for Joe Root as Test captain after Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier in the summer.
Root praised his side’s composure amid the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the series, noting the importance of a solid partnership to clinch the win and the confidence it provides heading into the winter. He added, “From 2‑2 to seeing two batsmen finish us off at home is a step forward.
Everyone is contributing, showing they belong at this level. We’ll face new challenges on different surfaces, but we must keep progressing together.” Former England opener Mark Butcher echoed the sentiment, observing that the series forced England to confront varying conditions, especially those they might encounter in South Africa where the ball behaves differently. He highlighted the lack of centuries as a minor concern but praised the overall quality of the side. Urooj Mumtaz of Sky Sports Cricket offered a sobering view of Pakistan cricket, pointing out systemic issues: a recent loss to Bangladesh at home, a poor away record of 11 defeats in 12 matches, and a troubling 15 losses in the last 20 Tests.
She emphasized that while Pakistan displayed flashes of brilliance, sustained improvement is essential for a brighter future. Fans can watch every England match this summer live on Sky Sports, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, which begins with the first T20 International on Tuesday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.