Joe Root’s persistent vulnerability to leg‑before‑wicket dismissals and England’s inability to turn solid starts into full centuries have emerged as the only blemishes on an otherwise encouraging batting display in the post‑Bazball era, according to former England captain Nasser Hussain. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England piled up a massive 453 runs in their first innings, establishing a commanding lead of 320 over Pakistan.
The hosts were firmly in the driver’s seat and appeared set to complete a 3‑0 whitewash of the touring side. Pakistan, however, found themselves reeling at 52‑2, still trailing by 268 runs when rain intervened and forced a premature end to the day’s play.
"I’ve really liked the tempo of the batting we have seen in this series," Hussain said in a post‑match interview. "When we first entered the Bazball phase there were concerns that England were playing too aggressively and not capitalising on the chances that came their way. That fear has largely disappeared now. The middle order – Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Gus Atkinson – have found the right rhythm and are playing with a positive intent." He added that even bowlers who are normally known for their pace with the ball, such as Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer, have contributed useful runs, underscoring the depth of the batting line‑up.
"Emilio Gay, opening the innings, is playing with a measured tempo. He knows when to take the attack and when to absorb pressure.
English cricket, and this particular England side, have been crying out for that kind of composure at the top of the order." Despite the overall optimism, Hussain flagged two specific issues that still need to be addressed before England can claim complete dominance. First, the world’s second‑most prolific Test run‑scorer, Joe Root, has been dismissed leg‑before‑wicket on four separate occasions in the series.
"There are clearly two boxes that haven’t been ticked yet," Hussain noted. "Our best batsman is struggling with one particular mode of dismissal – lbw. It’s obvious because he tried to make a technical adjustment after the first innings, only to be caught out the same way again." Root’s struggle is not merely a statistical curiosity; it has practical implications for the team’s ability to post imposing totals.
While his overall run tally remains impressive, the pattern of lbw dismissals suggests a technical flaw that opponents can exploit, especially on pitches that offer seam movement or variable bounce. The second concern revolves around England’s century drought.
In this series, several batsmen have gotten close but have not been able to push past the three‑figure mark. Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all recorded half‑centuries without converting them into hundreds.
In total, 14 fifties have been compiled across the three matches, yet not a single century has been registered. This is the first time such a pattern has occurred in an English Test series since the 1888 Ashes. "The other thing we need to work on is converting those starts into big scores," Hussain said. "You can beat Pakistan with a series of 40s, 50s and 60s, but to compete with a strong Australian side or the New Zealand team we faced earlier this summer, you need massive hundreds and double‑centuries.
England simply have to turn those solid platforms into truly big innings." Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad echoed a similar sentiment, arguing that the definition of a ‘good’ score may need to be reconsidered given the bowler‑friendly conditions that have prevailed this summer. Broad pointed out that a score of 60 on a difficult, seam‑laden pitch can be as valuable as a century on a flat, batting‑friendly surface. "Top‑order batting has been very tough in this series," Broad observed. "Root, arguably England’s greatest ever batsman, has struggled for runs.
If he’s finding it hard, it’s understandable that the rest of the line‑up would also face challenges. We can’t praise bowlers like Ollie Robinson, who is taking wickets at an astonishing average of around six, and then turn around and say we should be scoring more centuries.
In truth, a 60 on these pitches feels like a hundred. You have to work just as hard for a 60 here as you would for a hundred on a typical Test wicket." Both Hussain and Broad agree that England’s batting framework is fundamentally sound – the aggression, the tempo, and the willingness to dominate the bowlers are evident.
However, the fine‑tuning of technique against specific dismissal modes and the mental shift required to push past the fifty‑run barrier are the final pieces of the puzzle. Looking ahead, England will need to address Root’s lbw vulnerability, perhaps by revisiting his stance, back‑foot movement, or line of defense against in‑swinging deliveries. Coaching staff may also focus on scenario‑based practice sessions that simulate high‑pressure situations, encouraging batsmen to extend their innings beyond the half‑century mark.
If England can resolve these two lingering issues – eliminating Root’s lbw problem and fostering a culture of converting starts into substantial scores – they will be well‑positioned to dominate not only Pakistan but also any top‑ranked side they face later in the season. The post‑Bazball batting philosophy has already shown its capacity to produce rapid runs and positive momentum; now it simply needs the finishing touch of big, match‑winning centuries to complete the transformation.