England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, despite a nervous start, by successfully chasing down a modest target of 130 runs on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of a loss seemed almost unimaginable when England’s fast bowler Ollie Robinson rattled the Pakistani batting line‑up early on the second evening, reducing them to 0 for 2 while they still trailed by 320 runs. However, the situation became genuinely precarious when England themselves lost two wickets in the very first over of the fourth morning’s innings.
Ben Duckett, who had already endured a difficult series, was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, caught behind by Mohammad Abbas (2‑27). The dismissal was followed by a lbw decision against Emilio Gay, leaving England in a precarious position at the start of the chase. The early setbacks sparked concerns that England might suffer a humiliating defeat, but those fears were quickly allayed by captain Joe Root. Root, who remained unbeaten on 62, forged a steady partnership with the young Jordan Cox.
Together they added 128 runs without loss, with Cox contributing a composed 59. Their partnership steered England to safety, and they achieved the required total in just 24.2 overs, winning by eight wickets. The match statistics tell the story of a contest with several notable performances. Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in their first innings, with contributions from Saud Shakeel (43) and Mohammad Abbas (21).
England’s bowlers Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25) shared the wickets. In response, England posted a massive 453, highlighted by Harry Brook’s 75, Jamie Smith’s 69, Dan Lawrence’s 65, Emilio Gay’s 60 and a half‑century from Ollie Robinson (50). Pakistan’s Razaullah took four wickets for 148 runs. Pakistan’s second innings produced 449 runs, anchored by Shan Masood’s 95, Razaullah’s explosive 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam’s 76 and Azan Awais’s 59.
Gus Atkinson claimed three wickets for 109 runs. The final innings saw England chase down the target with Root (62 not out) and Cox (59 not out) at the helm, while Mohammad Abbas finished with figures of 2‑27. A pivotal moment in the series came when Mohammad Ali overstepped while bowling at Root, delivering a no‑ball that allowed the English captain to continue his innings.
At that juncture England were 35 for 2, and the extra delivery proved crucial in preserving the chase. Cox’s half‑century will be under close scrutiny as England prepare for their upcoming three‑match tour of South Africa, which begins on 17 December. The performance may bolster his case for a regular place in the Test XI. Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury, is expected to return.
There is speculation about whether Bethell or Cox could open the innings in place of Emilio Gay, who currently occupies that slot. If Gay retains his opening position, Cox could still feature as a wicket‑keeper, a role currently filled by Jamie Smith.
Smith missed keeping duties in Pakistan’s second innings due to a finger injury, but he has a three‑month window to recover fully. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a total under 130 – a feat not achieved in England since 1997 when Australia were bowled out for 104 chasing 124 in the Ashes at The Oval. The last time a side successfully defended a sub‑130 target in England was in 1993 when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton.
Despite a disappointing series overall, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest into the fourth day and setting a target that gave England a momentary pause. Their young all‑rounder Razaullah emerged as a bright spot. On his debut, he dismissed England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root with his fourth ball, later claiming four wickets.
His batting on the third evening was equally memorable; after Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell, they were still two runs behind England’s projected total. Razaullah then smashed 81 runs off just 63 deliveries, striking the boundary nine times and matching Tim Southee’s debut record for most fours.
England’s 3‑0 series victory is well earned, especially as it marks the return of Joe Root to the captaincy after Ben Stokes’ retirement earlier in the summer. Root reflected on the series, noting the “uncertainty, noise and chaos” that surrounded the start of the tour, praising his side’s clinical approach and the decisive partnership that sealed the win. He highlighted the importance of contributions from all members of the squad and expressed optimism about the team’s direction heading into the winter months and upcoming challenges on different surfaces. Former England opener Mark Butcher of Sky Sports praised the effort, acknowledging that the series forced England to confront varying conditions, particularly those they might encounter in South Africa where the ball behaves differently.
He noted a slight concern over the lack of centuries but emphasized the overall positive aspects of the team’s performance. Urooj Mumtaz, also of Sky Sports, offered a candid assessment of Pakistan cricket, pointing out systemic issues and a recent string of poor results, including losses at home to Bangladesh and a series draw in the West Indies. She highlighted that Pakistan have lost 11 of their last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 overall, underscoring the need for substantial, long‑term reforms to revive the nation’s cricketing fortunes.
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