Joe Root believes that the upheavals England endured this summer have actually forged a stronger, more resilient side, and that the team now finds itself in an advantageous position as it heads into the forthcoming winter series in South Africa. The England captain made these remarks after steering his side to a historic whitewash of Pakistan on home soil, a feat the nation had never achieved before.
In the decisive third Test at Edgbaston, Root (who scored 62) and middle‑order batsman Jordan Cox (59) combined for a 128‑run partnership that propelled England to an eight‑wicket victory. The win capped a summer that has been anything but smooth – a period marked by a change of head coach, the appointment of a new captain, and a string of off‑field distractions that dominated headlines. Root praised the squad’s professionalism, noting that the players’ work ethic and ability to stay focused amid external noise were key to securing a comprehensive series triumph.
"I think we're in a better place than we were, definitely," he said. "Having gone through a chaotic summer, you learn a lot about the group of players you have. The way we have approached our cricket throughout this series has been very pleasing, and we want to keep that momentum going." He added that emerging from a period of uncertainty has given the team a newfound clarity.
"Everything we have been through recently, and now being able to find clarity on the other side of that chaos, is a really important part of our progress," Root explained. "You can only deal with what is in front of you, and once the situation unfolded, it was our response that mattered most. The group has handled that brilliantly." Reflecting on the third Test, which turned into a challenging encounter after Pakistan’s youngster Razaullah produced a dazzling 81 off 63 balls on day three, Root acknowledged that the opposition’s resurgence would ultimately benefit England. "The fact that we have been able to start this journey and win the series in the manner we have is very pleasing," he said.
"We had a little pushback from Pakistan yesterday, which, oddly enough, was good for the group." Root praised Razaullah’s effort, noting the difficulty of fielding against such aggressive stroke‑play. "Fair play to Razaullah – he made things very difficult for us. He played some wonderful shots and it was hard to set fields.
He struck the ball beautifully; I don’t know how he didn’t pull a muscle swinging that hard," Root laughed. Despite the pressure, England’s response was decisive. "To come through that and finish the series so convincingly across all three matches has been extremely satisfying," the captain said.
"We were clinical at the end, building a big partnership that took us home. That is exactly the kind of performance we want and it puts us in a great position heading into the winter tour." Some observers have expressed concern over England’s lack of centuries during the series – neither side managed a hundred, even though there were 17 half‑centuries across the three Tests.
This marked the first three‑match Test series in England without a ton since the 1888 Ashes. Root, however, dismissed these worries, emphasizing the challenging batting conditions and the consistency of contributions from across the lineup. "Everyone would love to make a century after getting set, but the nature of this summer’s pitches has been tough for everyone, not just us," he explained. "The pleasing thing is that after the early wickets fell, we saw players like Jordan and myself step up at the end, which is a step in the right direction." He continued, "It would be more concerning if we relied on one or two players to score centuries consistently.
The fact that many are contributing shows the depth of talent we have at this level." Root also highlighted that England posted totals of around 400 runs twice in conditions that many would consider difficult for batting. "We’ll face different challenges and surfaces in the winter, but if we keep making progress as a group, especially by producing big contributions, we’ll be in a strong position," he said. Looking ahead, the captain is optimistic about the team’s ability to adapt to the varied pitches and climates they will encounter in South Africa.
He believes the lessons learned from a turbulent summer – dealing with change, maintaining focus, and responding positively to adversity – will serve England well on the road. Fans can follow every England match this summer, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, on Sky Sports. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.