Joe Root’s unbeaten 62 and Jordan Cox’s composed 59 completed England’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston, sealing a 3-0 series whitewash. The chase was only 130, but England still had to recover from an early double blow before Root and Cox took control with a low-risk, high-efficiency stand.
England close out a controlled chase
England lost Ben Duckett first ball and Emilio Gay soon after, leaving the home side briefly exposed at the start of the pursuit. Pakistan then had a rare opening when Mohammad Ali bowled Root on 23, only for the delivery to be ruled a no-ball, extending England’s advantage and underlining the visitors’ discipline issues.
Root’s innings was measured rather than aggressive. It was his 110th Test innings of 50 or more, and his 41st century aside, the milestone reflects the consistency that has defined his Test career. England reached the target in the 25th over, a telling indicator of how efficiently the chase was managed once Root settled.
| Match metric | Figure |
|---|
| Target | 130 |
| England result | Won by 8 wickets |
| Overs taken | 25 |
| Joe Root | 62 not out |
| Jordan Cox | 59 not out |
Root’s numbers continue to define England’s stability
Root’s contribution was notable not only for the finish, but also for the context. In a chase where the top order wobbled early, he absorbed pressure and still kept the scoring rate efficient enough to avoid any late-stage collapse. That combination of tempo control and risk management remains one of the strongest indicators of his value in fourth-innings cricket.
The innings also reinforced his broader Test record. Reaching 110 scores of 50 or more places him among the most reliable run-scorers in the format, and his conversion base of 41 hundreds shows how regularly he turns starts into match-shaping totals. For England, that level of repeat output is often the difference between a steady chase and a prolonged scrap.
Pakistan’s discipline slipped at key moments
Pakistan’s bowling effort was competitive in patches, but small execution errors proved costly. Mohammad Ali’s no-ball count for the series reached 17, a significant figure in a contest where margins were already slim. In a three-Test series, that volume of extras and missed opportunities can have a measurable effect on pressure and control.
Pakistan had earlier battled to take the match into a fourth day after conceding a first-innings deficit of 320. That resistance was clearer than in the first two Tests, but it came too late to alter the outcome of the series.
| Pakistan control metrics | Figure |
|---|
| First-innings deficit | 320 |
| Mohammad Ali no-balls in series | 17 |
| Tests lost in last 21 | 16 |
England’s bowling laid the platform
England’s pace attack again shaped the broader series outcome. Their bowlers, led by Ollie Robinson, consistently extracted value from helpful surfaces and kept Pakistan under sustained pressure. Robinson finished as player of the series with 21 wickets, a return that underlines both volume and impact across three Tests.
The numbers suggest England’s attack had the edge even before the final innings began. Pakistan were forced into long periods of survival, while England repeatedly converted pressure into wicket-taking opportunities. On these pitches, that difference was decisive.
Batting depth remains a work in progress
Even with the clean sweep, England’s batting line-up was not flawless. No batter in the match reached three figures, and the middle-order balance remains unsettled ahead of the winter tour. Jordan Cox strengthened his case with an unbeaten 59 and added value by keeping wicket in the second innings after Jamie Smith’s finger injury.
That versatility matters because selection will tighten once Jacob Bethell returns from knee surgery. Between Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence and Cox, at least one batting option is likely to miss out, making the final makeup of the touring squad an important near-term decision.
| England performance markers | Figure |
|---|
| Joe Root | 62 not out |
| Jordan Cox | 59 not out |
| Ollie Robinson wickets in series | 21 |
| Series result | England won 3-0 |
What the whitewash means for England
This series offered England an important reset after a difficult stretch that included defeat in New Zealand and the Ashes setback. A 3-0 result does not erase those concerns, but it does provide evidence that the bowling attack has depth and that Root remains central to the side’s Test batting structure.
The next major benchmark will be South Africa, where conditions and opposition quality will provide a sharper test. England will likely need their fast-bowling group to stay fit and available to maintain the same level of control. For now, though, the series numbers point to a clear conclusion: England’s balance, experience and pace resources were enough to dominate Pakistan across all three Tests.