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Mark Butcher: Joe Root steadies the ship but South Africa will provide the real test for England

Mark Butcher says Joe Root has brought a sense of calmness to England’s Test side, but believes the tour of South Africa will provide a far sterner test of their progress.
Joe Root led England to their first Test series win since the 2024 tour of New Zealand.

Speaking after the win at Edgbaston, Joe Root said he felt England were in a better place now than they were at the start of the summer.

You’d certainly have to say things are calmer, and a 3-0 win in a Test series isn’t to be sniffed at, but Pakistan offered all the resistance of a piece of wet tissue paper, so it’s a hard one to call.
We will have to wait until the winter tour of South Africa to make a more informed judgement.
On the evidence so far, I wouldn’t say this England team under Root is better or worse – just different.
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