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 England losing the match seemed almost unimaginable when Ollie Robinson dismissed the visitors early, reducing Pakistan to 0 for 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, raising genuine concerns about a possible collapse.
Ben Duckett, who had not contributed with the bat, ended his disappointing series by being caught off the first ball of the innings bowled by Mohammad Abbas, who finished with figures of 2 for 27. The very next delivery saw Emilio Gay dismissed leg‑before‑wicket, completing a dramatic opening spell for Pakistan. Any fears of a catastrophic defeat for England were quickly allayed by the captain’s measured response.
Joe Root, unbeaten on 62, crafted a composed half‑century and forged an unbroken 128‑run partnership with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed a well‑made 59 not out. Their steady accumulation of runs propelled England to the required total in just 24.2 overs, sealing an eight‑wicket victory. The match summary reads as follows: Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs in their first innings, with contributions from Saud Shakeel (43) and Mohammad Abbas (21). England’s bowlers—Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25)—reaped the rewards.
England responded with 453 all out in 89 overs, highlighted by Harry Brook’s 75, Jamie Smith’s 69, Dan Lawrence’s 65, Emilio Gay’s 60 and Ollie Robinson’s useful 50. In the second innings Pakistan posted 449, thanks to Shan Masood’s 95, a blistering 81 off 63 balls by debutant Razaullah, Babar Azam’s 76 and Azan Awais’s 59, while Gus Atkinson claimed three wickets for 109 runs. The chase saw Root and Cox guide England home without further loss. A pivotal moment in the series came when Mohammad Ali over‑stepped while delivering a ball to Root, who was on 23 at the time.
The no‑ball allowed Root to continue his innings, and England were only 35 for 2 when the incident occurred. Such fine margins underscore how close the contest could have become. Cox’s solid knock bolsters his case for retaining a place in England’s starting XI as the team prepares for the upcoming three‑match tour of South Africa, commencing on 17 December.
Injured all‑rounder Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series, is expected to return, prompting speculation about whether he or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay. Should Gay remain at the top, Cox could also be considered for the wicket‑keeping duties, as Jamie Smith was unable to keep in Pakistan’s second innings due to a finger injury that will require a few months to heal fully. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a total of 130 or fewer—a feat not achieved in England since the 1997 Ashes when England set Australia 124 at The Oval.
Historically, the last successful defence of such a low target in England occurred in 1993 when New Zealand were bowled out for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Although the series has been largely disappointing for Pakistan, they displayed resilience in the final Test by extending the contest into the fourth day and posting a target that momentarily unsettled England. The emergence of 21‑year‑old Razaullah has been a bright spot for Pakistan. The debutant struck Root’s wicket with just his fourth ball in Test cricket, later achieving a four‑wicket haul and an explosive 81 off 63 balls, matching Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes (nine) by a debutant.
His performance will be remembered as a highlight in an otherwise bleak series for the visitors. Overall, England’s 3‑0 series victory is well‑deserved and marks a significant moment for Joe Root’s tenure as Test captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier in the summer. Root reflected on the triumph, noting the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the series and praising his side’s clinical approach and the crucial partnership that secured the win. He emphasized the importance of contributions from across the team and looked ahead to the challenges of winter tours, particularly in South Africa, where conditions differ markedly.
Former England opener Mark Butcher of Sky Sports praised the effort, acknowledging that England were forced to work for the win at times, which provided valuable lessons for adapting to varied conditions, especially where the ball offers less lateral movement. He also highlighted the lack of centuries as a slight concern but affirmed the overall quality of England’s performance throughout the series. Urooj Mumtaz, also with Sky Sports, offered a candid assessment of Pakistan cricket, pointing to systemic issues that have led to a string of poor results abroad, including 11 defeats in 12 away series and 15 losses in the last 20 Tests.
She argued that while Pakistan displayed flashes of brilliance, sustained improvement will require long‑term structural changes. Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, on Sky Sports.
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