England wrapped up the home Test series against Pakistan with a resounding eight-wicket win to seal a clean sweep and complete their first series win in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Joe Root returned to the captaincy in style as his side completed the formalities with a clinical run chase on Day 4 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
England had the advantage after amassing a huge 320-run lead in the first innings. However, the new-look Pakistan side fought back, with Razaullah in particular, who smashed a 63-ball 81 on debut. The visitors crossed the 200-run mark in the series for the first time and even avoided an innings loss in the process.
Pakistan posted 449 in the second innings, leaving England a target of 130 to chase down. Mohammad Abbas struck twice in the opening over to instill some hope, but Jordan Cox and Joe Root compiled unbeaten fifties to get the hosts over the line.
Before the third Test, England were ranked sixth in the WTC standings on the back of their successive wins. Leapfrogging Sri Lanka, they had a win percentage of 34.44. The success in the series finale has improved their win percentage to 38.54, as they hold the same spot in the table.
Pakistan, on the other hand, with their seventh Test loss in the cycle, are still placed last with a win percentage of 14.81. Before the match, their win percentage was 16.67, slightly below the eighth-ranked West Indies.
England set to tour South Africa while Pakistan host Sri Lanka at the end of the year
The Joe Root-led side wrapped up their home summer, and their next red-ball assignment is scheduled in the December-January window, when they tour South Africa for a three-match series. England completed a 3-1 series win during their last tour of the Rainbow Nation in 2019-20.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will host their subcontinent rivals, Sri Lanka, for a two-match Test series in November.
Edited by Gokul Nair
