England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, overcoming an early wobble to chase down a modest target of 130 runs on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of a loss seemed far‑fetched when Ollie Robinson rattled the visitors to 0‑2 early on the second evening, leaving Pakistan still 320 runs behind.
Yet the situation grew tense when England themselves lost two wickets in the first over of the fourth morning, hinting that a dramatic reversal might be possible. Ben Duckett, who finished the series without a run, was caught on the very first ball by Mohammad Abbas (2‑27), who then dismissed Emilio Gay leg‑before‑wicket to complete a stunning opening spell for Pakistan. The early panic that England might suffer a humiliating defeat evaporated quickly as captain Joe Root (62 not out) steadied the ship with a composed half‑century.
He forged an unbroken 128‑run partnership with the young Jordan Cox (59 not out), whose third fifty of the series arrived late in the innings, guiding England to the required total in just 24.2 overs. **First‑innings summary** Pakistan were bundled out for 133 in 33.5 overs, with Saud Shakeel contributing 43 and Mohammad Abbas adding 21. England’s bowlers shared the spoils: Josh Tongue took 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15 and Jofra Archer 3‑25.
England replied with a massive 453 in 89 overs, highlighted by Harry Brook’s 75, Jamie Smith’s 69, Dan Lawrence’s 65, Emilio Gay’s 60 and a late surge from Ollie Robinson (50). Pakistan’s paceman Razaullah claimed four wickets for 148 runs. In the second innings, Pakistan posted 449 in 96.4 overs, with Shan Masood’s 95, Razaullah’s blistering 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam’s 76 and Azan Awais’s 59 providing the bulk of the runs. Gus Atkinson took three wickets for 109.
England then chased down the target, reaching 130‑2 in 24.2 overs, thanks to Root’s 62* and Cox’s 59*, while Abbas again featured with figures of 2‑27. A pivotal moment came when Mohammad Ali overstepped while delivering a ball that would have bowled Root for 23, the delivery hitting the stumps on a no‑ball.
At that juncture England were only 35‑2, and the missed wicket could have shifted momentum back to Pakistan. The incident underscored the fine margins that often decide Test matches. Cox’s innings will bolster his case for retaining a place in the England XI when the side embarks on their 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 still feature as a specialist wicket‑keeper, a role currently filled by Jamie Smith, who missed keeping duties in Pakistan’s second innings due to a finger injury that requires a few months to heal. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a total below 130—a feat not achieved in England since the 1997 Ashes when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104.
The last time a side defended a sub‑130 target in England was New Zealand’s 93 against England in 1993 at Hamilton, though that was on foreign soil. Despite the overall disappointment of the series, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest into the fourth day and setting a target that momentarily troubled the hosts. A bright spot for Pakistan was the emergence of 21‑year‑old fast‑bowling prodigy Razaullah.
He dismissed England’s all‑time leading run‑scorer Joe Root with just his fourth ball in Test cricket and went on to claim four wickets in the first innings. His explosive batting in the third evening—81 runs off 63 balls, striking nine sixes—matched Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a debutant. When Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell in the second innings, they were still two runs behind, suggesting a possible upset before Razaullah’s onslaught secured a respectable total. Ultimately, England’s 3‑0 series win was well earned, marking a triumphant return for Joe Root as Test captain after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier in the summer.
Root reflected on the series, noting the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the build‑up and praising his side’s clinical approach. He highlighted the importance of the partnership that saw England home and expressed optimism about the team’s future as they head into the winter and upcoming tours.
England’s success was echoed by former England opener Mark Butcher, who praised the team’s ability to handle pressure and adapt to varying conditions, especially with an eye on the forthcoming South African tour where the ball may not move as much laterally. He did, however, point out a slight concern over the lack of centuries, though he acknowledged the overall strength displayed throughout the series. Pakistani analyst Urooj Mumtaz offered a sobering assessment of Pakistan cricket, citing systemic problems and a poor recent record—11 losses in 12 away Tests and 15 defeats in the last 20 Test matches.
She emphasized that while Pakistan showed flashes of quality, substantial and sustained improvements are required for a brighter future. 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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