The China Mail - Root urges England to be 'grown-ups' after Pakistan series win

Root returned for a second spell as Test captain following Ben Stokes's shock international retirement and back-to-back thrashings of Pakistan mean that England have now won a multi-match series for the first time since December 2024.

England's new-look pace quartet dismissed Pakistan for just 194 on Sunday as the hosts went 2-0 up in a three-match contest following their innings and 103-run win at Headingley.

But the build-up to the second Test was overshadowed by an incident which saw England quick Brydon Carse dropped from the squad after being handcuffed by police outside a Derby nightclub.

It was the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled controversies that have dogged England since a disastrous tour of New Zealand and Australia at the end of last year.

After white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, and videos circulated of England players appearing drunk on nights out during the 4-1 Ashes series thrashing by Australia, a curfew was introduced.

But in June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson were stood down from the second Test against New Zealand following an incident at a London bar which came after they broke the curfew.

One of Root's first acts upon his return to the England captaincy was to ditch the curfew and call on players to take greater personal responsibility for their conduct, with the skipper saying on Sunday that he had had enough of discussing his team-mates' off-field behaviour.

"It's important we're not talking about that, absolutely," said Root. "It's hard to win Test matches, hard to win Test series, so enjoy it and celebrate it, but in a sensible, grown-up way."

- 'Legacy' -

England's four-man attack of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Atkinson again proved far too potent for Pakistan at Lord's.

Root, who was able to call on England greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad in his first spell as skipper, has high hopes for his new fast-bowling quartet.

"I was blessed to captain them (Anderson and Broad) first time around, but the most exciting thing is these guys have the opportunity to create their own legacy... There's no reason they can't write their own chapter in English fast-bowling history."

The normally reliable Root managed just 28 runs in two innings at Lord's and has now been lbw nine times in his past seven Tests.

But Root has more than 14,000 Test runs to his credit, with the 35-year-old Yorkshireman second only to retired India great Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time list.

"The reason I've got the runs I have, and had the amount of time playing Test cricket, is because I've always been quite good at understanding, being level and eventually problem solving," said Root, adding: "I know I'm a good player and I'd like to think there's a big score around the corner."

For Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas, his personal satisfaction at gaining a coveted place on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul was tempered by the veteran seamer's worries over the poor showing from a side who arrived in London already bottom of the World Test Championship table.

"Our performance is a concern for everyone," said Abbas following Pakistan's 15th defeat in their last 20 Tests, and 10th away from home in 11 games.

"Everyone is worried," added Abbas. "We're not doing well, we accept that. We're not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings."

England were faltering at 77-4 in their first innings only for Pakistan's poor fielding to help get them out of trouble again.

"We dropped catches and their key players scored 70-odd extra runs," said Abbas. "That's where the match changed because we could have bowled them out for 200. It's disappointing."

K.Lam--ThChM