England vs Pakistan: Joe Root hails team’s growth amid summer turmoil
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England in better place than start of summer – Root
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By Matthew Henry, BBC Sport journalist
Published 9 minutes ago
Captain Joe Root said England are in a better place at the end of their turbulent summer than at the start after he helped seal a 3-0 series win over Pakistan.
Root hit 62 not out and Jordan Cox ended unbeaten on 59 as England survived a scare to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston.
It provided a successful end to a summer that has included the shock retirement of captain Ben Stokes, the sacking of Test coach Brendon McCullum and various off-field issues.
"In chaos, you learn a lot about the group of players you have." Root said. "For us to have come through this series in the manner we have done… has been really pleasing."
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‘We can’t ask for any more’ – Root praises England performance
Root first regained the captaincy for the second Test against New Zealand in June after Stokes—who had been backed to remain in post alongside McCullum after last winter’s Ashes defeat by Australia—was left out after breaking a team curfew.
After Stokes retired following the series defeat by New Zealand a Test later, McCullum was sacked and Root given the captaincy on a full-time basis for a second time.
Amid changes in personnel given the absence of Stokes, Root, who was Test captain from 2017 to 2022, has brought a calming presence to the role. A side previously questioned for their professionalism has appeared more mature and adaptable, though the build-up to the second Test was overshadowed an incident involving bowler Brydon Carse outside a nightclub in Derby.
"There’s been a lot of chaos around this series before a ball was bowled," Root said. "The way we’ve handled it on and off the field… is a really good thing."
A side such as Dan Lawrence, who came into the side in place of Stokes, and Cox have impressed, as had the four-man pace attack until struggles against the Pakistan lower order on Friday in Birmingham. Root said he believed the team’s development off the field is most significant.
"We’re not the finished article," Root told BBC Test Match Special. "But there’s no reason we can’t."
