England secured a comprehensive 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 an English defeat seemed almost impossible after Ollie Robinson ripped through the Pakistani top order, leaving the visitors at 0 for 2 on the second evening while they still trailed by 320 runs. Yet the match almost turned on its head when England lost two quick wickets in the opening over of the fourth morning, prompting a brief flicker of doubt.
Ben Duckett, who had endured a miserable series, was dismissed first ball by Mohammad Abbas (2‑27), and Emilio Gay followed shortly after, bowled by the same bowler, completing a dramatic opening spell for Pakistan. The early panic was quickly quelled by England’s captain, Joe Root, who produced a composed 62 not out, forming a vital, unbeaten partnership of 128 runs with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed 59 not out. Their steady accumulation saw England reach the required 130 in just 24.2 overs, sealing an eight‑wicket victory. **First innings scores** - Pakistan 133 all out (33.5 overs): top scores from Saud Shakeel (43) and Mohammad Abbas (21).
England bowlers Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25) shared the wickets. - England 453 all out (89 overs): Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) provided the bulk of the runs. Pakistan’s bowler Razaullah claimed an impressive 4‑148.
**Second innings scores** - Pakistan 449 all out (96.4 overs): Shan Masood (95), the debutant Razaullah (81 off 63 balls), Babar Azam (76) and Azan Awais (59) built a solid total. Gus Atkinson took 3‑109 for England. - England 130‑2 (24.2 overs): Root (62*) and Cox (59*) guided the chase, while Abbas again troubled the hosts with 2‑27. The match featured a pivotal moment when Mohammad Ali over‑stepped while attempting to dismiss Root for 23, delivering a no‑ball that allowed England to recover from 35‑2.
That error could have altered the outcome, but England’s resilience proved decisive. Cox’s half‑century strengthens his case for a regular spot in the England XI as they prepare for the upcoming three‑match tour of South Africa starting 17 December.
Injured all‑rounder Jacob Bethell is expected to return, raising questions about whether he or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay. Should Gay retain his opening role, Cox could also serve as wicket‑keeper, covering for Jamie Smith, who missed keeping duties in Pakistan’s second innings due to a finger injury that requires a few months to heal fully.
Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a sub‑130 total, 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 team defended 130 or fewer in England was in 1993, when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Despite a disappointing series overall, Pakistan displayed moments of fight, especially in the final Test where they pushed England into the fourth day and set a target that caused genuine concern. The standout performer for Pakistan was 21‑year‑old Razaullah, who announced himself as a raw talent.
He dismissed England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root early in the first innings, claiming his wicket with just his fourth ball in Test cricket, and later produced a four‑wicket haul. His explosive batting on the third evening—81 runs off 63 balls with nine sixes—matched Tim Southee’s record for most sixes by a debutant and left an indelible impression. England’s 3‑0 series win is a fitting reward for Joe Root’s return to the Test captaincy after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier in the summer.
Root praised his side’s composure amid the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the series, highlighting the clinical partnership that secured the final victory and the collective contributions that have put England in a strong position heading into the winter. "We were clinical towards the back end there, a big partnership to see us home.
It's exactly the sort of thing we're after and puts us in a nice place going into the winter," Root said. He added that the team’s ability to post 400‑plus totals twice in challenging conditions bodes well for future challenges on different surfaces. Former England opener Mark Butcher of Sky Sports noted that the series forced England to “sweat at times,” a useful experience for adapting to varied conditions, particularly ahead of the South African tour where the ball may not move as much laterally.
He also mentioned a slight concern over the lack of centuries but emphasized the overall positivity of the series. Urooj Mumtaz, also with Sky Sports, highlighted the broader issues facing Pakistan cricket. She pointed out that Pakistan have now lost 11 of their last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 overall, underscoring the need for systemic improvements.
While the team showed flashes of quality, especially through Razaullah’s debut, sustained progress will require addressing deeper structural problems. Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, via Sky Sports. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream matches contract‑free with NOW.