Joe Root’s recurring vulnerability to leg‑before‑wicket dismissals and England’s inability to turn solid starts into full centuries were the only blemishes on an otherwise encouraging post‑Bazball batting performance, according to former England captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England posted a massive 453 in their first innings, establishing a dominant lead of 320 runs over Pakistan.
The English side appeared firmly in control and seemed destined 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 forced a premature end to the day’s play.
"I’ve really enjoyed the tempo of the batting we’ve seen in this series," Hussain remarked. "We talked early on in the Bazball era about England playing too aggressively and missing chances.
This time, the rhythm is right, especially in the middle order with Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Gus Atkinson all contributing fluidly." He added that even bowlers such as Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer were chipping in with useful runs, underscoring the depth of the batting line‑up. "Emilio Gay’s approach at the top of the order is exactly what English cricket has been craving – he can bat with patience, absorb pressure, and then accelerate when the moment is right." Despite the flood of positives, Hussain identified two lingering issues that England must still resolve if they are to dominate future opponents. First, Root’s four dismissals in the match have all come via LBW.
The world’s second‑most prolific Test run‑scorer continues to wrestle with this particular mode of dismissal. "There are two boxes England haven’t ticked yet," Hussain explained. "Their premier batsman is clearly struggling with one specific way of getting out – LBW. He tried to make a technical tweak after the first innings, but the problem resurfaced in the second." Second, the team’s conversion rate from half‑centuries to full centuries has reached historically low levels.
Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached the fifty‑run mark without pressing on to three figures. In total, fourteen half‑centuries have been recorded across the series, yet not a single century has been compiled – a feat not seen in an English Test series since the 1888 Ashes. "The other missing piece is the ability to convert those starts into hundreds," Hussain said.
"You can beat Pakistan with scores in the 40s, 50s and 60s, but to overcome a side like Australia or the New Zealand team we faced earlier this summer, you need big hundreds and massive innings. England simply need to turn those solid foundations into big scores." Former England paceman 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 of 60 can be as valuable as a century on a flatter surface.
"Top‑order batting has been extremely tough in this series," Broad observed. "Root, arguably England’s greatest ever batsman, has struggled for runs. If he’s having difficulty, it’s understandable that the rest of the line‑up will also find runs hard to come by." He continued, "We can’t applaud Ollie Robinson for taking around 20 wickets at an average of roughly six and then turn around and say we should be seeing more centuries. Honestly, this summer a 60 feels 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 context of the series highlights the challenges England faces in adapting to the new, high‑tempo Bazball philosophy while still respecting the fundamentals of technique and patience. The aggressive mindset has produced quick scoring rates and a fearless approach, but it also demands that players fine‑tune their defensive skills to avoid repetitive dismissals such as LBW. For Root, the key may lie in adjusting his footwork and line to better counter the swing and seam movement that Pakistani bowlers, despite being perceived as a weaker attack, have been able to exploit. Meanwhile, the middle order’s inability to push beyond the fifty‑run barrier suggests a mental hurdle as much as a technical one.
Players like Brook and Smith have shown the capacity to dominate bowlers for extended periods, yet the final push to a hundred remains elusive. Coaching staff may need to work on innings‑building strategies, encouraging batsmen to rotate the strike more effectively, target weaker bowlers, and seize the momentum when it arrives.
In summary, while England’s post‑Bazball batting has displayed an attractive tempo and depth, the twin issues of Root’s LBW susceptibility and the team’s century drought highlight areas that require immediate attention. Addressing these concerns will be essential if England hopes to translate dominant performances into series‑winning scores against stronger opposition in the future.