Root returns as captain as England sweep Pakistan 3-0
Joe Root is England's Test captain again. Kevin Pietersen is back in the England fold. The announcements closed a home summer that ended with a 3-0 Test sweep of Pakistan, according to BBC Sport.
England started the summer in June with three Tests against New Zealand, opening at Lord's, before Pakistan arrived in mid-August for three more, as listed by Reuters. The series finished at Edgbaston in Birmingham, where the third Test began on 9 September with an 11am start, according to the ECB. Josh Tongue routed Pakistan there as England dominated to complete the clean sweep, Reuters reported.
Ollie Robinson led the bowling summer. He took 28 wickets at an average of 9.32. That is stingy. Even in Test cricket, the five-day format where patience matters, that return stands out.
Robinson heads a four-man pace attack alongside Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson. Pace means fast bowling, the sharp end of the attack. Behind them, Sam Cook, Sonny Baker, Matthew Fisher and Henry Crocombe share just four Test caps, or Test appearances, between them. Brydon Carse is also available for selection.
There was change off the field too. Marcus Trescothick served as stand-in coach through the Test summer. Rob Key has now been director of cricket for more than four years. In July, Harry Brook said captaining the Test team would be a privilege, in comments reported by Reuters. The job has gone to Root for a second spell in charge.
Pietersen's return covers the white-ball game. He has been appointed as specialist mentor to England's limited-overs teams ahead of the 2027 World Cup. White-ball means one-day internationals and T20s, where the white ball is used instead of the red Test ball.
What comes next is busy. England face Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket after the Pakistan series, with a T20I, the 20-overs-a-side format, listed for 15 September, according to the ECB. Then comes a one-off pink-ball 150th anniversary Test in Melbourne, a day-night Test played under lights with a pink ball. Two matches in Bangladesh follow in February.
What makes this stand out is the mix. An experienced attack delivered. Young reserves wait. Root offers familiarity. For fans, this means a winter to watch, with history in Melbourne and a fresh test in Asian conditions to follow.
