England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, overcoming an early wobble to chase down a modest target of 130 runs on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of England losing the match seemed far‑fetched when Ollie Robinson had skittled the visitors to 0‑2 early on the second evening, leaving Pakistan still 320 runs behind. Yet the situation briefly turned precarious when England themselves lost two quick wickets in the opening over of the fourth morning.
Ben Duckett, who had not contributed with the bat, was the first to fall, caught off the first ball of Mohammad Abbas (2‑27). Abbas then dismissed Emilio Gay (lbw) to complete a dramatic opening spell that left England reeling. However, any fear of a catastrophic collapse was quickly allayed by captain Joe Root, who, despite a duck, forged a steady fifty and built a crucial 128‑run partnership with the young Jordan Cox. Cox, who added his third half‑century of the series, helped England seal victory in just 24.2 overs, finishing at 130‑2.
**First innings scores** - Pakistan: 133 all out (33.5 overs). Notable contributions: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21.
England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25. - England: 453 all out (89 overs). Key knocks: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50.
Pakistan bowler Razaullah claimed 4‑148. **Second innings scores** - Pakistan: 449 all out (96.4 overs). Highlights: Shan Masood 95, debutant Razaullah 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59.
England bowler Gus Atkinson took 3‑109. - England chase: 130‑2 (24.2 overs) – Root 62, Cox 59, securing an eight‑wicket win.
The match featured a pivotal moment when Mohammad Ali overstepped while delivering a ball that struck Root for 23 runs. The no‑ball allowed England to remain 35‑2, shifting momentum back in their favour.
Cox’s innings will bolster his case for retaining a place in the England XI as the side prepares for the upcoming three‑match Test tour of South Africa, commencing on 17 December. Injured all‑rounder Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series, is expected to return, raising questions about whether he or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay. Should Gay keep his opening slot, Cox could also serve as wicket‑keeper, a role currently occupied by Jamie Smith, who missed the second innings due to a finger injury that will require a few months to heal. Pakistan briefly entertained the idea 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 successful defence of a target under 130 in a Test in England dates back to 1993, when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Despite a disappointing series overall, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest into the fourth day and posting a target that gave England a momentary pause. The emergence of 21‑year‑old Razaullah was a bright spot; he dismissed England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root in the first innings with only his fourth ball in Test cricket and went on to claim four wickets. His explosive batting in the third evening – 81 runs from just 63 deliveries, striking nine boundaries – matched Tim Southee’s record for the most fours by a debutant.
England’s 3‑0 series triumph reflects the successful return of Joe Root as Test captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier in the summer. Root praised his side’s composure amid the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the series, highlighting the clinical partnership that clinched the final win and noting the collective contributions that have placed England in a strong position heading into the winter. "We were clinical towards the back end there, a big partnership to see us home. It's exactly the sort of thing we're after and puts us in a nice place going into the winter," Root said.
He added that the team’s ability to post 400‑plus totals twice in challenging conditions bodes well for future challenges on different surfaces. Former England opener Mark Butcher, commenting for Sky Sports Cricket, observed that the series forced England to “sweat at times,” which he considered beneficial for preparation ahead of the South African tour, where the ball may not move laterally as much. He noted a slight concern over the lack of centuries but emphasized the overall positive aspects of the English side. Urooj Mumtaz, also of Sky Sports Cricket, highlighted the broader issues facing Pakistan cricket.
She pointed out that Pakistan have now lost 11 of their last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 overall, underscoring a need for systemic improvement despite occasional flashes of talent like Razaullah. Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, via Sky Sports.
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