Cricket Sep 14, 2026

Joe Root's struggles and England century drought against Pakistan the only concerns from improved post-Bazball batting, says Nasser Hussain

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Joe Root's struggles and England century drought against Pakistan the only concerns from improved post-Bazball batting, says Nasser Hussain

Joe Root's susceptibility to lbw and England's failure to convert starts into centuries are the only blots on an improved post-Bazball batting display, according to Nasser Hussain.

England piled on 453 runs to establish a commanding first-innings lead of 320 in the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.

The hosts were firmly in control and on course for a 3-0 series sweep, with Pakistan closing on 52-2, still 268 runs adrift, when rain curtailed play.

"I've liked the tempo of the batting in this series," former England captain Hussain said.

"We talked about it earlier in the Bazball era, England going too hard and not seizing opportunities.

"They've got the tempo right, especially through the middle order with Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Gus Atkinson.

"I know it's a poor Pakistan bowling attack, but even Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer have contributed with the bat.

"I like Emilio Gay's tempo at the top of the order. He bats time and knows when to absorb pressure. English cricket, and this side in particular, have been crying out for that."

Despite the overwhelming positives, Hussain highlighted two areas England have yet to address during the Pakistan series.

Root's four dismissals have all been lbw, with the world's second-highest Test run-scorer continuing to wrestle with that mode of dismissal.

"Obviously, there are two boxes they haven't ticked," Hussain explained.

"Their greatest player is struggling with one specific type of dismissal: lbw.

"It's so obvious he's struggling. He tried to address it in the first innings, made a technical adjustment and then got out lbw again."

Meanwhile, England's wait for a hundred has reached historic levels.

Brook (75), Smith (69), Lawrence (65), Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50) have all reached fifty without kicking on to three figures.

A total of 14 half-centuries have been scored across the series without a single hundred, the first time that has happened in a Test series in England since the 1888 Ashes.

"The other one is getting hundreds," Hussain added.

"You can beat Pakistan with 40s, 50s and 60s. To beat Australia, or the New Zealand side we saw earlier in the summer, you need big hundreds and massive scores

"England just need to convert those starts into big scores."

Reflecting on the absence of a century in the Test series, former England bowler Stuart Broad has called for a reassessment of what constitutes a good score after a scorching summer has made conditions favourable for bowlers.

Broad argued that some scores this summer have been every bit as valuable as centuries on flatter pitches.

"Top-order batting has been very difficult in this series," Broad said.

"Root, England's best-ever player, has struggled for runs in this series. If he's struggling, it's OK for everyone else to struggle.

"We can't praise the likes of Ollie Robinson, who is getting 20-odd wickets at an average of around 6.00, and also say, 'We should be getting more centuries.'

"To be honest, this summer I think a 60 has felt like a hundred.

"You've had to work as hard for a 60 on these pitches as you would for a hundred on a normal Test match surface."

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

England vs Pakistan: Razaullah, 21, hits remarkable 81 off 63 balls featuring nine sixes to force final Test into fourth day

England vs Pakistan: Razaullah, 21, hits remarkable 81 off 63 balls featuring nine sixes to force final Test into fourth day

England were denied a series sweep of Pakistan inside three days of the final Test at Edgbaston after a remarkable display of six-hitting from 21-year...

England vs Pakistan: Razaullah writes 'perfect chapter' to revive reeling Pakistan and force England into unwanted day four

England vs Pakistan: Razaullah writes 'perfect chapter' to revive reeling Pakistan and force England into unwanted day four

Former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz lauded youngster Razaullah and said he wrote the "perfect chapter" to revive his reeling side after his sensation...

Kevin Pietersen 'buzzing' at England white-ball coaching role as specialist mentor, says Marcus Trescothick

Kevin Pietersen 'buzzing' at England white-ball coaching role as specialist mentor, says Marcus Trescothick

Kevin Pietersen is “buzzing” to be back with the England set-up, having joined the white-ball coaching staff for the series against Sri Lanka, accordi...

One Day Cup: Rocky Flintoff's 65-ball century helps Lancashire set up quarter-final meeting with Ben Stokes' Durham

One Day Cup: Rocky Flintoff's 65-ball century helps Lancashire set up quarter-final meeting with Ben Stokes' Durham

Rocky Flintoff made his first Lancashire century in a One Day Cup thrashing of Somerset - and will now meet Ben Stokes and Durham in the quarter-final...

Ben Stokes: England cricket chief Rob Key says door is open for former captain to return for home 2027 Ashes against Australia

Ben Stokes: England cricket chief Rob Key says door is open for former captain to return for home 2027 Ashes against Australia

England cricket chief Rob Key has left the door open to Ben Stokes coming out of international retirement to play in next summer's home Ashes series a...

Michael Atherton: England must become Joe Root’s team after Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum departures – he has a unique opportunity

Michael Atherton: England must become Joe Root’s team after Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum departures – he has a unique opportunity

Fresh from , Your Site Cricket's Michael Atherton looks further into the move...Sitting down with Joe Root, he seemed pretty relaxed, optimistic and e...