Joe Root reflected that the English side has emerged stronger after a period of upheaval, and now feels "well placed" as they head into the forthcoming winter tour of South Africa. The comments came after Root captained England to a historic whitewash of Pakistan on home soil, a series that will be remembered for its dramatic swings and the resilience shown by the players. 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 steered England to an eight‑wicket triumph.
The victory capped a summer that has been anything but calm, featuring a change of head coach, the appointment of a new captain, and a host of off‑field controversies that dominated headlines. Root praised the squad’s professionalism, work ethic and ability to stay focused despite the constant external noise. "I think we're in a better place than we were, definitely," he said.
"Having gone through a tumultuous summer, you learn a lot in chaos. It teaches you about the character of the group you have, and the way we have approached our cricket this series has been very pleasing. We want that momentum to continue." He went on to explain how the team managed to find clarity after a period of uncertainty. "All the challenges we faced over the last few months forced us to confront what we could control.
Once everything unfolded the way it did, the key was how we responded, and the group has done that brilliantly," Root added. The third Test proved to be a stern test for England after Pakistan’s youngster Razaullah produced a heroic 81 off 63 balls on day three, setting a target that could have shifted the series.
Root acknowledged the impact of that innings, noting that the brief resurgence from Pakistan will ultimately benefit England in the long run. "Fair play to Razaullah – he made things difficult for us.
He struck the ball beautifully and forced us to think hard about field placements. It was impressive how he managed to swing the bat with such power without injury." Despite the pressure, England’s response was decisive.
Root highlighted the importance of the final partnership that saw them chase down the target with ease. "We were clinical at the back end, and that big partnership took us home. It’s exactly the kind of performance we want and puts us in a comfortable position heading into the winter series." One lingering concern throughout the series has been the lack of centuries.
Neither England nor Pakistan managed to reach the three‑figure mark, even though the teams combined for 17 half‑centuries across three Tests. This was the first three‑match Test series in England without a hundred since the 1888 Ashes. Root, however, dismissed any alarm over the absence of big scores, pointing to the challenging batting conditions that prevailed throughout the summer.
"Everyone would love to make a century, but the nature of the summer and the surfaces we played on made it difficult for all sides, not just us," he said. "What is pleasing is that from the start of the innings to the end, we saw contributions from many players. It shows depth in the squad and that we’re not overly reliant on one or two individuals to score heavily." Root emphasized that the collective effort, including two innings of 400 runs each in tough conditions, demonstrated the team’s ability to adapt and thrive.
He also noted that the upcoming winter tour will present new challenges, with different pitches and climates, but expressed confidence that the group can continue to make progress together. Looking ahead, England will travel to South Africa for a series that will test their skills on slower, bouncier tracks. Root’s optimism suggests that the lessons learned during a chaotic summer – from handling media scrutiny to navigating internal changes – will serve the team well when faced with unfamiliar conditions.
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