Joe Root believes that the turbulence England experienced over a hectic summer has actually strengthened the side, leaving them "well placed" as they head into the forthcoming winter tour of South Africa. The confidence comes after Root captained his team to a historic whitewash of Pakistan on home soil, a series that ended with a decisive eight‑wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston.
In that final match, Root contributed a solid 62 runs while lower‑order batsman Jordan Cox added 59, forging a 128‑run partnership that effectively sealed the win. The partnership not only clinched the series 3‑0 but also provided a positive book‑end to a summer that saw England undergo a change of head coach, a new captaincy, and a host of off‑field distractions that dominated headlines. Root praised the squad’s professionalism, work ethic and composure, noting that the team managed to stay focused despite the external noise that surrounded them throughout the season.
"I think we're in a better place than we were, definitely," he said. "Just having gone through a tumultuous summer, you learn a lot about the group of players you have. The way we have approached our cricket has been really pleasing, and we want to build on that now." He added that emerging from the chaos with clarity was a crucial part of England’s progress.
"You can only deal with what's in front of you," Root explained. "When everything unfolded the way it did, it was our response that mattered, and the group handled it brilliantly." Reflecting on the third Test, which turned into a challenging encounter after Pakistan’s youngster Razaullah produced a rapid 81 off 63 balls on day three, Root acknowledged that the opposition’s resurgence would ultimately benefit England.
"The fact that we’ve been able to start that journey and win a series in the manner we have is really pleasing," he said. "We had a little bit of pushback yesterday from Pakistan, which, oddly enough, was a good thing for the group." Root complimented Razaullah’s aggressive stroke‑play, marveling at the youngster’s ability to swing the bat with such power without injury. "He made things difficult for us, playing wonderful shots and making field placements a nightmare.
But to come through that and finish the series so convincingly has been very satisfying," Root noted. The captain highlighted the significance of the big partnership that saw England home, describing it as exactly the type of performance they want to replicate heading into the winter.
"We were clinical towards the back end, and that partnership gave us a nice platform going into the winter," he said. Despite the series win, some critics have pointed out that England failed to produce a single century, with both sides relying on a total of 17 half‑centuries across three Tests – the first time a three‑match series in England has ended without a hundred since the 1888 Ashes. Root brushed off these concerns, emphasizing the challenging batting conditions that affected both teams. "Everyone would love to make a century after getting set, but the nature of the summer and the surfaces we’ve had made it tough for everyone, not just us," he explained.
He argued that the spread of contributions across the batting order is actually a positive sign. "It would be more worrying if we were relying on one or two individuals to score centuries consistently. The fact that everyone is contributing shows that the side is strong enough to perform at this level," Root said. He also reminded fans that England had posted scores of 400 or more twice in those same conditions, underscoring the team’s ability to compile big totals when the situation demands it.
Looking ahead, Root acknowledged that the winter tour will present new challenges, including different pitches and weather conditions in South Africa. "We’ll face different surfaces and different challenges, but the aim is to keep taking strides forward as a group," he said.
"If we can keep making those big contributions together, we’ll be in a good position." The captain’s optimism comes at a time when England’s schedule also includes a white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, with the first T20 International set to kick off on a Tuesday. Fans can follow every England match live on Sky Sports, and those without a Sky subscription have the option to explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream matches contract‑free via NOW.