Birmingham: England captain Joe Root has rejected criticism that Pakistan have shown “no fight” during their ongoing Test series, calling the narrative disrespectful to both teams ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.
England have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after convincing victories at Headingley and Lord’s. Pakistan have struggled significantly with both bat and ball, and have not crossed 200 in any of their four innings so far. Despite the one-sided results, Root said England’s performance should also be recognised rather than simply portraying Pakistan as a weak opponent.
Root rejects ‘no fight’ narrative
Root was asked at his pre-match press conference about facing a Pakistan side that had been described as offering little resistance during the series.
The England captain strongly disagreed with that assessment.
He said it was “a bit disrespectful” to both Pakistan and England to suggest that the visitors had offered no fight. Root pointed to England’s own performance as one of the reasons Pakistan had struggled to establish themselves in the matches.
According to Root, England had been able to prevent Pakistan from getting into favourable positions because of how effectively the home side had read the match situations and playing conditions.
The former England captain also cautioned against viewing a Test match purely as a contest between one excellent side and one poor side.
England have dominated the first two Tests
England’s results have undoubtedly put Pakistan under considerable pressure.
At Headingley, England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs. The hosts followed that up with a 194-run victory at Lord’s, leaving Pakistan facing the possibility of a 3-0 series defeat.
England’s revamped pace attack has been a major factor in the series. Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson have consistently troubled Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Pakistan’s inability to reach 200 in any of their four innings has highlighted the gulf between the two teams during the opening two matches.
However, Root believes the third Test could present a completely different challenge.
He stressed that Pakistan still have talented players in their dressing room and said England must be prepared for a strong response in Birmingham.
Pakistan face major changes before Edgbaston Test
Pakistan’s difficulties have extended beyond their performances on the field.
After the second Test, the Pakistan Cricket Board took the extraordinary step of sending seven players home. Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was also removed, while white-ball coach Mike Hesson was brought in to oversee the Test side for the series finale.
Seven replacements were subsequently added to the Pakistan squad, with five of them yet to make their Test debuts.
The sweeping changes have created further uncertainty around the Pakistan team just as it prepares for a must-win match.
Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie has also criticised the mid-series overhaul, arguing that repeated changes have undermined stability and consistency within the team. Reuters reported that Gillespie questioned the way players and coaches were informed about the changes and criticised the wider management approach.
Babar Azam under pressure
Captain Babar Azam is at the centre of Pakistan’s efforts to salvage something from the tour.
The Pakistan team has faced intense scrutiny after its performances in the opening two Tests, while Babar’s leadership and batting have also come under pressure.
The third Test provides the team with an opportunity to respond on the field after a turbulent period away from it.
For England, meanwhile, the challenge is to maintain their intensity despite already securing the series.
Root said England would approach the match as a completely different proposition rather than assuming the result of the first two Tests would determine the outcome at Edgbaston.
Root warns England against complacency
England’s dominant results could make complacency a potential danger.
Root acknowledged that Pakistan have a talented group of players and said England would need to be ready for the challenge.
His comments also reflected the competitive nature of Test cricket, where conditions, momentum and individual performances can change quickly.
The Edgbaston surface and England’s pace attack are expected to once again play important roles. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be looking for a stronger batting performance after repeatedly losing wickets without building substantial totals in the opening two Tests.
The visitors also have the motivation of avoiding a clean sweep.
A different Pakistan could emerge
Root’s comments have provided a measure of respect for a Pakistan side that has endured a difficult tour.
While the results have been heavily in England’s favour, the England captain’s assessment was that the home team’s own performance contributed significantly to Pakistan’s struggles.
His warning that the third Test will be a “completely different proposition” also suggests England are not taking the series finale lightly.
For Pakistan, the match represents more than an opportunity to avoid a 3-0 defeat. It is a chance for the reshuffled squad to restore confidence and demonstrate that the team’s recent problems do not define its entire cricketing potential.
The third Test at Edgbaston begins on September 9, with England seeking a clean sweep and Pakistan fighting to end a turbulent tour on a positive note.