England’s cricket team has emerged stronger following a turbulent period marked by off-field disruptions and leadership changes, captain Joe Root said after their 3-0 series win over Pakistan.

Root and Jordan Cox both scored unbeaten half-centuries to secure victory at Edgbaston in the final match of the series, guiding England to a successful chase of 130 runs despite early setbacks when they lost two wickets in the opening over. This series was Root’s first as captain after taking over the role from Ben Stokes, who retired from international cricket earlier this summer following the conclusion of the New Zealand series. That series had been marred by Stokes being suspended for one match due to a breach of team curfew, and it also led to the dismissal of red-ball coach Brendon McCullum.

Root acknowledged the challenges the team faced leading into the series, describing the period as one of significant upheaval. “There’s been a lot of chaos around this series before a ball was bowled,” he said, pointing to off-field incidents and leadership transitions as factors that complicated the team’s preparations. One such incident involved bowler Brydon Carse, who was removed from the squad following an event outside a nightclub prior to the second Test and has not been selected since.

Despite the difficulties, Root expressed optimism about the progress made in improving team culture and discipline. He emphasized that building a positive environment takes time and consistency. “When you’re trying to build a culture it doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen over the course of three or four weeks,” Root said. “It’s going to take time to keep working at that, living it day in and day out, and that’s something we’ll continue to keep working at.”

Reflecting on the summer, Root described it as an unusual period for England cricket, characterized by unexpected challenges. However, he stressed that the team has gained clarity and a renewed focus on and off the field. “For us to now be able to have the clarity and come through the other side of chaos, I think is a really important part,” he added.

England’s 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan provides a platform from which Root and his team hope to build sustained success amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the squad following a series of disruptions.