Joe Root has challenged his England team to forge their own chapter in cricket history following a commanding series victory over Pakistan at Lord's, where the hosts wrapped up the three-match contest with a 194-run triumph in the second Test.
The England captain hailed the result as a
wonderful startto his second spell in charge, with the victory representing the side's first Test series win in a contest of more than three matches since they defeated New Zealand 2-1 away from home in December 2024. Root also stressed that England should celebrate the achievement in a
sensible, grown-up wayafter securing the series at Lord's, according to The Guardian.
The path to this series success had been complicated by off-field controversy, with fast bowler Brydon Carse dropped from the second Test following an incident outside a Derby nightclub the previous week. However, England's performance on the pitch proved decisive, with the team having already moved 2-0 up in the series following an innings-and-103-run victory at Headingley.
At Lord's, England's batsmen showed resilience in difficult conditions. Dan Lawrence struck a half-century in the second innings, while Emilio Gay and Harry Brook contributed 31 and 34 respectively. Pakistan were left chasing an imposing target of 389, but the visitors crumbled to defeat, with Pakistan bowled out for 110 in their second innings, leaving England in complete control.
England's four-pronged pace attack proved the decisive factor on an unpredictable Lord's surface. Ollie Robinson, named Player of the Match, was the standout performer, claiming eight wickets across both of Pakistan's innings. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue each took five wickets, while Gus Atkinson provided crucial support with his ferocious pace. Archer reached an extraordinary 94mph in the first innings, showcasing the raw speed at England's disposal.
Robinson's success came partly from exploiting the turning pitch to generate lateral movement, but he was complemented by the pace of his fellow bowlers. The Lord's surface has attracted significant scrutiny this summer, with 21 wickets falling to lbw and bowled deliveries during the match. The pitch received an 'unsatisfactory' rating from the ICC following the New Zealand Test in June, prompting the MCC to unveil an Action Plan aimed at improving the wicket.
Root, however, believes the issue extends beyond the pitch itself.
I know The Home of Cricket is desperate to produce the best surface possible and I'm sure they're doing everything they can to provide that moving forward, he said.
I think the balls have been very different this year. I think there's a different lacquer on them, I've not got evidence on that and probably need to ask Dukes, but I think there's a lacquer on the seam. They don't want them to go out of shape.
I think that they are affecting the wickets; I think they're dinting more, and as a batter, when you practise, they're cracking your bats more frequently. They seem a lot firmer and probably if they're dinting the wickets and then it's going to seam off the dints as well.
Root's vision for England's future
Looking beyond the immediate series victory, Root outlined an ambitious vision for the team's development.
This is a group of players that's going to be around this team for a long period of time and has a real opportunity to influence and shape it, both on and off the field, he explained.
The two performances we've put forward have been a really good step in the right direction.
Root emphasised the importance of testing themselves in varied conditions.
We now have the chance to go and do that again at Edgbaston in whatever conditions we find ourselves in and then we'll move forward again to the next challenge when we go to South Africa, he said.
The more we can play together and the more we understand how we're going to operate in different conditions, the more we'll grow and the better we'll be for it. That's both for me as a captain and for them, learning and developing as Test players.
The England captain was particularly enthusiastic about the potential of his fast bowling unit.
The most exciting thing about these guys is they have the opportunity to create their own legacy, Root said.
They're all of an age where they can play together for a long period of time, and I think they've all got skill sets that travel around the world in different conditions.
It's all there for them if they keep working hard and performing in the manner that they are now, then there's no reason why they can't write their own little chapter in English fast bowling history.
Batting struggles and personal reflection
Root himself endured a difficult match with the bat, dismissed for four in England's first innings and 24 in the second, both times falling lbw to Pakistan's bowlers. He acknowledged the challenging batting conditions but refused to dwell on his personal performance.
I'd love to have scored more runs, he reflected.
But when you're winning games, it's important to see things for what they are.
The England captain pointed to his track record as evidence of his ability to overcome adversity.
I think the reason I've got the runs that I have in Test cricket is I've always been quite good at being level and eventually problem-solving, he said.
I'll continue to keep working hard, I might have been out lbw a few times. Some of those have been on umpire's call, which, if they go the other way, might not be as much of a talking point.
We've also seen the ball move more than it ever has. Three of my lbw dismissals have been here at Lord's where it seems significantly.
Despite his struggles, Root remained optimistic about his form.
I think there has to be a sense of calm and realism about things, but also I'll continue to keep working at my game, improving it and I know I'm a good player. I like to think there's a big score around the corner.
Root praised his batsmen for their efforts in difficult circumstances. He hailed Lawrence and Gay for their second-innings contributions, describing Gay as
very unluckyto be removed, pinned lbw by a low bouncing ball from Mohammad Abbas.
What happens next
England will look to complete a series whitewash when the third Test begins on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The final match of the series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am, with first ball at 11am.
Root's return as captain has already yielded tangible success, with the team having won both Tests so far. The challenge now lies in maintaining momentum and continuing to develop the squad's ability to perform across different conditions, with a tour of South Africa looming on the horizon.
