Joe Root believes that the chaos of this summer has taught England valuable lessons and left them "well placed" as they head into the upcoming winter tour of South Africa. The confidence comes after he captained the side to a historic whitewash of Pakistan on home soil. In the third Test at Edgbaston, Root (62 not out) and middle‑order batsman Jordan Cox (59 not out) forged a 128‑run stand that propelled England to an eight‑wicket win.
The victory capped a season that has been anything but smooth, featuring a new head coach, a freshly appointed captain and a parade of off‑field distractions that dominated the headlines. Root praised the squad’s professionalism, work ethic and resilience, noting that the team managed to stay focused despite the surrounding noise. He said the series win was a "positive end" to a tumultuous summer and that the experience of navigating uncertainty has strengthened the group. "I think we’re in a better place than we were, definitely," Root said.
"Going through a chaotic summer teaches you a lot about the players you have. The way we have approached our cricket this series has been very pleasing, and we want to keep that momentum going." He added that emerging from the turmoil with clarity is a crucial part of the team’s progress.
"You can only deal with what’s in front of you. Once everything unfolded, it was our response that mattered, and the group handled it brilliantly," he explained. Reflecting on the challenging third Test, Root highlighted the impact of Pakistan’s young fast‑bowler Razaullah, who produced a daring 81 off 63 balls on day three, giving Pakistan a fighting target. "Fair play to Razaullah – he made things difficult for us with some wonderful shots.
It was impressive how he could swing the bat that hard without injury," Root remarked. Despite the late surge from Pakistan, England recovered and secured a decisive partnership that saw them home. "We were clinical at the end, and that big partnership is exactly the kind of performance we want.
It puts us in a nice place heading into the winter series," Root said. One talking point after the series was the lack of centuries.
Both England and Pakistan failed to reach a hundred, even though the three‑match series produced 17 half‑centuries. It was the first three‑Test series in England without a hundred since the 1888 Ashes. Root dismissed concerns about the absence of big scores, pointing out that the conditions and pitches this summer have been challenging for everyone. "Everyone would love to make a century, but the nature of the summer and the surfaces we’ve had made it difficult across the board," he said.
"What’s pleasing is that we’ve seen contributions from many players, not just one or two. That shows we have depth and can perform at this level." Root also noted that England posted two totals of around 400 runs in the series, a sign that the batting unit can still produce big scores when the conditions allow.
He warned that the winter tour will present new challenges, with different surfaces and weather, but expressed confidence that the team can continue to make strides together. "It would be more worrying if we relied on a couple of individuals to score centuries consistently. The fact that everyone is contributing means we have the talent to succeed," Root asserted. "We’ll face different challenges in South Africa, but we’ll keep moving forward as a group." The captain’s comments come as England prepares for a demanding itinerary in South Africa, where pitches tend to favor pace and bounce, and the climate can be unforgiving.
The winter tour will test the side’s adaptability, but Root’s optimism suggests that the lessons learned from a chaotic summer have equipped the team with the mental toughness needed for success abroad. Fans can follow every England match this summer on Sky Sports, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, which kicks off with the first T20I on Tuesday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream matches contract‑free via NOW.