Root hails England response to chaotic summer after 3-0 Pakistan sweep

England captain Joe Root praised his team for overcoming a turbulent summer of off-field controversies and leadership upheaval to secure a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan. The victory was sealed with an eight-wicket win in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday. Root, who returned to the captaincy after Ben Stokes' shock retirement during the series against New Zealand, described the period as a "very unusual summer" marked by a mid-series resignation, several off-field incidents, and a change in head coach. He said the team's response to this chaos was excellent. "There's been a lot of chaos around this series before a ball was bowled," Root said after the match. "I think the way we've handled it on and off the field, the way everyone understands what is expected of them both as a player and how we want to carry ourselves is a really good thing." The summer's disruptions included Stokes standing down from the second Test against New Zealand following a disciplinary probe into a nightclub trip with teammate Gus Atkinson, before retiring entirely. Head coach Brendon McCullum was subsequently relieved of his red-ball duties.