England secured a comprehensive 3-0 series victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston, wrapping up the final Test with a decisive chase of 130 runs on the fourth day. The win marked England's first home series whitewash against Pakistan, a milestone that underscored their dominance despite a nervous start. The match began with Pakistan in a precarious position.
After being bowled out for 133 in their first innings, they trailed England by a massive 320 runs. The early evening of the second day saw England’s pace attack, led by Ollie Robinson, reduce the visitors to 0-2, prompting many to wonder if the hosts could ever be in danger of losing.
That anxiety was amplified on the fourth morning when England lost two wickets in the very first over of their chase, casting a brief shadow over the inevitable victory. Ben Duckett, who had endured a difficult series, was the first to fall, caught behind off Mohammad Abbas’s second‑innings figures of 2‑27. The dismissal was followed by a dramatic lbw given to Emilio Gay, who was also out for a duck, leaving England at 0‑2.
The early setbacks, however, proved only temporary. Captain Joe Root, unbeaten on 62, steadied the ship with a composed half‑century. He forged a crucial partnership with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed an unbeaten 59.
Their 128‑run stand, unbroken, guided England to the target in just 24.2 overs, securing an eight‑wicket win and sealing the series sweep. A quick recap of the scores: - Pakistan 1st innings: 133 all out (33.5 overs).
Top scores: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21. England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25. - England 1st innings: 453 all out (89 overs). Highlights: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50.
Pakistan bowler: Razaullah 4‑148. - Pakistan 2nd innings: 449 all out (96.4 overs).
Notable contributions: Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59. England bowler: Gus Atkinson 3‑109. - England 2nd innings chase: 130‑2 (24.2 overs). Root 62*, Cox 59*.
The match also featured a controversial moment when Mohammad Ali overstepped while delivering a ball to Root, resulting in a no‑ball that allowed the England captain to continue his innings. At the time, England were 35‑2, and the penalty could have altered the momentum, but the hosts recovered swiftly.
Jordan Cox’s half‑century bolstered his case for a regular spot in the England Test XI ahead of the upcoming three‑match tour of South Africa, scheduled to begin on 17 December. The squad’s composition is still under discussion, with Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury, expected to re‑join.
There is speculation whether Bethell or Cox might open the innings in place of Emilio Gay, who has been a regular opener. If Gay retains his opening role, Cox could be deployed as a wicket‑keeper, a position currently occupied by Jamie Smith. Smith missed the second innings due to a finger injury, and his recovery timeline is projected at roughly three months, leaving room for tactical adjustments. Pakistan’s brief hope of defending a sub‑130 target echoed a rare feat in Test history.
The last time a side successfully defended a total of 130 or fewer in England was in 1997, when England set Australia 124 at The Oval and bowled them out for 104. The only other comparable instance occurred in 1993 when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Despite the series loss, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest into the fourth day and setting a target that momentarily troubled England. Their performance highlighted the emergence of 21‑year‑old Razaullah, a debutant who made an immediate impact.
He dismissed England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root in the first innings with just his fourth delivery and later produced a spectacular 81‑run blitz off 63 balls, striking the boundary nine times and equalling Tim Southee’s debut record for sixes. Razaullah’s all‑round display—four wickets in the first innings and a rapid-fire cameo in the second—provided a silver lining for Pakistan and suggested a promising future for the young all‑rounder.
Overall, England’s clean sweep was well‑deserved, especially as it marked Joe Root’s return to the Test captaincy after Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier in the summer. Root reflected on the series, saying, "The amount of uncertainty and noise coming into the series was huge, but the way the guys dealt with it, being clinical, and ending with a 3‑0 win is really pleasing. We were clinical at the back end, a big partnership saw us home, and that’s exactly the sort of thing we want heading into winter." Mark Butcher of Sky Sports added, "They were made to sweat at times, which is good.
It gave England pause for thought about differing conditions, especially for the upcoming South Africa tour where the ball may not move laterally as much. There were concerns about the lack of centuries, but overall the series showcased a strong England side." Urooj Mumtaz, also with Sky Sports, highlighted Pakistan’s broader challenges: "Pakistan cricket faces major problems. They lost this series, drew in the West Indies, and lost to Bangladesh at home.
They have now lost 11 out of 12 away Tests and 15 of the last 20. Those figures are telling, as are the size of England’s wins. Pakistan may have had one good day in the series, but a lot needs to be fixed for a brighter future." Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, on Sky Sports.
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