Joe Root believes that the chaos England endured this summer has taught the team important lessons and left them "well placed" as they head into the winter tour of South Africa. The captain’s comments came after England secured a historic home whitewash of Pakistan, a series that ended with a dominant eight‑wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston.

In that decisive match, Root (62 not out) and middle‑order batsman Jordan Cox (59 not out) stitched together a 128‑run partnership that steered England to a comfortable win. The triumph provided a positive conclusion to a summer that was anything but smooth – a period marked by a change of head coach, the appointment of a new captain and a slew of off‑field distractions that dominated headlines.

Root praised his side’s professionalism and work ethic, highlighting how the group managed to stay focused despite the surrounding noise. "I think we’re in a better place than we were, definitely," he said.

"Going through a tumultuous summer, you learn a lot about the group of players you have. To come through this series the way we have, playing the kind of cricket we enjoy, is very pleasing, and we want to keep that momentum going." He added that emerging from the disorder of the past few months gave the team much‑needed clarity.

"We’ve been through a lot recently, and to now have that clarity and get through the other side of chaos is a crucial part of our progress. You can only deal with what’s in front of you, and how we responded to the challenges was the most important thing. The group handled it brilliantly," Root explained. Reflecting on the third Test, which turned into a tense encounter after Pakistan’s youngster Razaullah produced a rapid 81 off 63 balls on day three, Root acknowledged that the brief resurgence from the opposition was ultimately beneficial.

"The fact that we’ve been able to start this journey and win the series in the manner we have is very pleasing. Things have gone our way for the most part, but the pushback from Pakistan was, in a strange way, good for the group," he said.

Root praised Razaullah’s effort, noting the difficulty he caused England’s bowlers. "Fair play to Razaullah – he made things difficult for us. He played some wonderful shots and made field placements a challenge.

He struck the ball so well; I don’t know how he didn’t pull a muscle swinging the bat that hard," Root remarked. Nevertheless, England’s response was decisive.

"To come through that and finish the series so convincingly across all three games has been really pleasing. We were clinical at the back end, and that big partnership saw us home. It’s exactly the kind of performance we want and puts us in a good place heading into the winter," he concluded.

Statistically, the series raised questions about England’s ability to convert starts into centuries. Neither side managed a hundred, despite a combined total of 17 half‑centuries across the three Tests – the first time a three‑match Test series in England has ended without a ton since the 1888 Ashes. Root, however, dismissed concerns about the lack of centuries, pointing out that the conditions throughout the summer were challenging for all batsmen. "Everyone would love to make a century after getting set, but the nature of this summer and the surfaces we’ve played on made big scores hard for everyone, not just us," he said.

"The pleasing thing is that after the early wickets fell, we saw contributions from players like myself and Cox at the end, which is a step in the right direction. It would be more worrying if we relied on one or two people to score centuries consistently. The fact that many are contributing shows the depth of the squad." Root also highlighted the team’s ability to post sizable totals even in tough conditions.

"We made 400 twice in these conditions, which is a good sign," he noted. Looking ahead, he acknowledged that the winter tour will present different challenges – new pitches, varied climates and unfamiliar opposition – but expressed confidence that England can continue to make progress as a unit.

"We’ll face different surfaces and conditions in the winter, but if we keep taking strides forward together, especially with big contributions from several players, we’ll be in a strong position," Root said. "The experience we’ve gained from this chaotic summer will serve us well when we travel to South Africa." Fans can follow England’s upcoming matches live on Sky Sports, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, which kicks off with the first T20 International on Tuesday.

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