Joe Root believes that the chaos England endured this summer has taught the team valuable lessons and left them "well placed" as they head into the upcoming winter tour of South Africa. The captain’s confidence follows England’s historic whitewash of Pakistan on home soil, a series that marked a turning point after a season riddled with upheaval.
In the third Test at Edgbaston, Root (62 not out) and middle‑order batsman Jordan Cox (59 not out) forged a 128‑run partnership that guided England to an eight‑wicket victory. The win capped a series that saw a new head coach, a fresh captaincy and a host of off‑field distractions, yet the side emerged triumphant, securing a 3‑0 sweep. Root praised the squad’s professionalism, work ethic and resilience, noting that the team thrived despite the “outside noise” that surrounded them throughout the summer. "I think we're in a better place than we were, definitely," he said.
"Going through such a tumultuous period teaches you a lot about the group you have. The way we approached our cricket this series has been extremely satisfying, and we want to build on that momentum now." He added that emerging from a chaotic environment has given the players clarity and confidence. "When you’ve been through the kind of challenges we faced, coming out the other side with a clear sense of purpose is crucial. You can only deal with what’s in front of you, and how we responded to each situation was the most important factor.
The group handled it brilliantly," Root explained. Reflecting on the third Test, which turned into a nail‑biting encounter after Pakistan’s young bowler Razaullah produced a swift 81 off 63 balls on day three, Root acknowledged the benefit of the opposition’s resurgence. "It was a good thing for us to face that pushback. It reminded us that we can’t take anything for granted and that we need to stay sharp," he said.
"Razaullah played some wonderful shots and made field placements a real challenge. It was impressive how he managed such power without injury." Despite the pressure, England’s response was decisive. Root highlighted the importance of the big partnership that sealed the match: "We were clinical at the end, and that partnership took us home. It’s exactly the kind of performance we want as we head into the winter series." One lingering concern after the series was the lack of centuries.
Between the three Tests, England and Pakistan combined for 17 half‑centuries but no player reached the three‑figure mark – a rarity not seen in an English home series since the 1888 Ashes. Root dismissed the worry, pointing out that the conditions and pitches throughout the summer were challenging for all batters, not just his side.
"Everyone would love to score a hundred, but the nature of the surfaces this summer made big scores difficult. The fact that we posted two 400‑plus totals shows we can still put up substantial totals even in tough conditions," he said.
Root also emphasized the value of contributions from across the batting order. "It would be more concerning if we relied on one or two players to make centuries consistently.
The fact that many of us are contributing indicates depth and quality in the squad," he noted. He believes this collective strength will be vital when England confronts different pitches and weather conditions in South Africa during the winter. Looking ahead, Root is optimistic about the team’s ability to keep progressing. "We’ll face new challenges on different surfaces, but if we continue to take strides forward together, especially by making big contributions, we’ll be in a strong position," he concluded.
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