09/12/26 11:48:00
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09/12 11:47 CDT England overcomes early scare to win 3rd cricket test against
Pakistan and sweep series
England overcomes early scare to win 3rd cricket test against Pakistan and
sweep series
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) --- Joe Root admits England descended into "chaos"
before he returned as the test captain and believes things are back on track
after sealing a cricket series whitewash over Pakistan on Saturday.
England survived a scare before Root and Jordan Cox scored unbeaten
half-centuries to knock off the target of 130 and win the third test at
Edgbaston by eight wickets with five sessions to spare.
The dramatic retirement of Ben Stokes in June followed by coach Brendon
McCullum being stripped of his red-ball responsibilities briefly left the test
side with a worrying leadership vacuum.
Root, who served as skipper for five years before standing down in 2022,
accepted the captaincy again and, in concert with interim coach Marcus
Trescothick, brought a hat trick of comfortable wins at Leeds, Lord's and now
Edgbaston, steadying the ship ahead of Stephen Fleming's arrival as McCullum's
long-term successor.
The Kiwi is due to arrive in the country in the coming days and Root believes
he will find a team that has put its turbulent recent past to one side.
"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, the way everyone understands
what is expected of them --- both as a player and how we want to carry
ourselves --- is a really good thing.
"It's been a very unusual summer, hasn't it? We had a resignation mid-series,
there has been a few off-field incidents and we've got a new coach. Whether you
call it chaos, whether you call it unusual, whether you call it unsettling, all
of those are fair.
"But ultimately, the thing that I care about and the most important thing is
what happens from that. The way that we've responded to that has been
excellent. And the fact that there's now clarity in what is expected of the
group moving forward is quite evident. We build on that now."
Pakistan finally put England under some pressure in Birmingham after flaccid
efforts in the first two games.
A stunning 81-run cameo from debutant Razaullah Khan on Friday left England
chasing 130.
In Saturday's first over, the host was reduced to 2-2 when Mohammad Abbas got
Ben Duckett to edge behind and Emilio Gay lbw.
"We thought this morning that anything is possible," Abbas said. "My specialty
is taking wickets with the new ball ... and we tried our best."
England could have been 35-3 when Root dragged on but Mohammad Ali overstepped.
Root and Cox shared an unbeaten stand of 128 with Root finishing on 62 and Cox
59 when they won at 133-2 just before lunch.
Seam bowler Ollie Robinson was named the player of the series for taking 21
wickets at an average of 8.76.
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