‘Very unusual summer’: Ben Stokes’ England retirement, McCullum’s departure, Carse controversy and Root’s return ends 3-0 in Pakistan

England players, including captain Joe Root, celebrate after their series win over Pakistan. (AP photo) England bounced back from a summer shock with a perfect 3-0 Test series against Pakistan and returning captain Joe Root believes the way his side have responded to an “unusual” period of change has been particularly encouraging.Root returned to the Test captaincy after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket, while former New Zealand batsman Stephen Fleming was appointed as the new England head coach following the departure of Brendon McCullum after four years.There have also been distractions off the field, including fast bowler Brydon Carse being dropped from the England squad after an incident outside a nightclub in Derby.Despite the turbulence, England completed a convincing eight-wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday to seal the series 3-0.“There was a lot of chaos around this series before the ball was bowled,” Root said in the post-match press conference. “At the start of the series we wanted 3-0 and we were clinical enough to do it.

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‘It’s been a very unusual summer’

Root, 35, who is the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, admitted the changes and controversy have caused an unusual summer for England.“It’s been a very unusual summer, hasn’t it? That’s probably a better way to put it. A lot of different things happened. We resigned halfway through the series, there were a few off-field incidents and we’ve got a new coach,” he said.“Whether you call it chaos, whether you call it unusual, whether you call it unsettling, it’s all fair and square. But at the end of the day, I care, and that’s the most important thing, what comes out of it. And I think the way we responded to that was excellent.”Root added that the party now has more clarity about its direction.“And the fact that it is now clear what is expected of the group going forward is quite evident and we are now building on that,” he said.

File Image: Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum (ANI Photo)

Root credits Stokes and McCullum

Back at the helm, Root was quick to acknowledge that England’s success remains rooted in the transformation overseen by Stokes and McCullum.“I don’t think we would have been able to play the way we have without the work that Brendon (McCullum) has done as coach and Ben (Stokes) as captain. And I think it’s a continuation and a bit of an evolution of everything that’s happened before this,” Root said.“So it’s got to go forward and we’re going to keep trying to develop it and improve what’s been a really good summer here,” he added.England’s ability to handle pressure was tested in the third Test after Pakistan put up a strong fightback in the second innings. Pakistan scored 449 after being dismissed for 133 in the first innings with Shan Masood 95, Babar Azam 76 and debutant Razaullah 81.But England were comfortably chasing 130, with Root not out on 62 and Jordan Cox making 59 in an unbroken partnership of 128 runs.“Throughout the series, things kind of went our way and we had a bit of a push yesterday, which was, in a weird way, a pretty good thing for the group,” Root said.“But to come through and be so convincing that we finished the series, over the course of three games, was really pleasing,” he added.

Kudos to Razaullah and Trescothick

Root also singled out Pakistan debutant Razaullah, who hit nine sixes in his 63-ball 81.“He played some lovely shots, made the fielding quite difficult and hit the ball nicely. I don’t understand how he didn’t really move sideways; he swings so hard. But fair play, he played nicely and made it difficult for us,” Root said.The England captain also praised interim coach Marcus Trescothick for guiding the side through the transition.“I think he’s been amazing. It can’t be an easy thing when you know it’s not a long-term role,” Root said.“For him to be able to juggle a little bit between trying to look ahead and what that might look like, but also have his influence and way of seeing the game on this group has been fantastic,” he added.