England secured a historic 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 far‑fetched when Ollie Robinson skittled the visitors early, leaving Pakistan reeling at 0 for 2 on the second evening while still 320 runs behind.
Yet the situation grew tense when England themselves lost two quick wickets in the opening over of the fourth morning, raising the spectre of a dramatic collapse. Ben Duckett, who ended the series on a low note, was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, caught by Mohammad Abbas (who finished with figures of 2 for 27).
The wicket was followed by a second dismissal, Emilio Gay, who fell leg‑before‑wicket, completing a startling opening spell for Pakistan. Any anxiety about a potential English defeat evaporated swiftly when captain Joe Root, unbeaten on 62, forged a composed half‑century.
He combined with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed an unbeaten 59, to compile an unbroken partnership of 128 runs. Their steady accumulation of runs steadied the innings and guided England to the required total in just 24.2 overs, sealing an eight‑wicket victory. **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).
Highlights: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50. Pakistan bowler: Razaullah 4‑148.
**Second innings scores** - Pakistan 449 all out (96.4 overs). Key innings: Shan Masood 95, debutant Razaullah 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59. England bowler Gus Atkinson claimed 3‑109. - England 130‑2 (24.2 overs) – target achieved.
Root 62* and Cox 59* guided the chase; Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas took 2‑27. A pivotal moment in the series occurred when Mohammad Ali over‑stepped while delivering a ball that struck Root for 23 runs.
The no‑ball allowed Root to survive at 35‑2, a turning point that prevented a potential collapse. Cox’s half‑century will bolster his case for retaining a place in England’s Test XI when the side embarks on a three‑match tour of South Africa starting 17 December. Injured all‑rounder Jacob Bethell is expected to return, prompting speculation about whether he or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay.
Should Gay keep his opening slot, Cox could also be considered as a backup wicket‑keeper, given Jamie Smith’s finger injury that kept him from keeping in Pakistan’s second innings. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a total under 130, a feat not achieved in England since the 1997 Ashes when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104. The last successful defense of a sub‑130 target in a Test in England dates back to 1993, when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton.
Despite a generally disappointing series for Pakistan, the final Test displayed a resurgence of fighting spirit. The hosts were pushed onto the fourth day and set a target that caused England genuine concern.
Young pacer 21‑year‑old Razaullah emerged as a standout talent, dismissing England’s all‑time leading run‑scorer Joe Root with only his fourth ball in Test cricket and later claiming four wickets. His aggressive batting on the third evening—81 runs off 63 balls with nine sixes—matched Tim Southee’s record for most sixes by a debutant.
England’s 3‑0 series triumph is a fitting reward for Joe Root’s return to the captaincy after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier in the summer. Root reflected on the win, saying, “The amount of uncertainty, noise and chaos coming into the series was huge, but the way the group handled it, being so clinical, and now standing here with a 3‑0 win is really pleasing.
We were clinical at the back end, a big partnership saw us home. It’s exactly what we wanted and puts us in a good position heading into winter.
From 2‑2 to seeing two guys set at the end is a step forward. Everyone contributing shows they’re capable at this level, which is great. We’ll face different challenges and surfaces in winter, but we’ll keep making strides together.
We still managed to post 400‑plus totals twice in these testing conditions.” Former England opener Mark Butcher of Sky Sports praised the effort, noting, “They were made to sweat at times, which is a good thing. It gave England pause for thought about varying conditions, especially for South Africa where the ball doesn’t move laterally as much.
There may be a slight concern about the lack of centuries, but overall there were many positives. They weren’t given much of a challenge for most of the series, so yesterday’s win was especially satisfying for the summer.” Urooj Mumtaz, also with Sky Sports, highlighted Pakistan’s broader struggles: “There are major problems with Pakistan cricket.
They lost this series, drew in the West Indies, and lost at home to Bangladesh, where their record isn’t great. They’ve now lost 11 out of 12 away Tests and 15 of the last 20. Those are telling figures, as are the margins of England’s victories.
Pakistan may have had one decent day in the series, but they need to build a solid foundation for a brighter future.” The series win positions England well ahead of their upcoming South African tour, where they will test their adaptability on slower, bouncier pitches. Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, via Sky Sports or stream the action on NOW without a contract.