Joe Root Rejects Claims Pakistan Showed No Fight in Last Two Test Matches

Joe Root has defended Pakistan ahead of the third Test, saying it is "disrespectful" to suggest that the team has not shown enough fight in the series.

England have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will now look to complete a clean sweep when the third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday. The hosts won comfortably at both Headingley and Lord's in the opening two matches.

Pakistan made several changes following their heavy defeat in the second Test. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent seven players back home and also removed Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed from his position. Mike Hesson, who is in charge of the white-ball team, has since taken over as Test coach.

The Pakistan squad for the final match also includes seven new players. Five of those players are still waiting to play their first Test, as Pakistan look to finish the series on a stronger note in Birmingham.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday, Root was asked about facing a Pakistan side that had offered no fight. Interestingly, the England captain Root did not agree with the way the question was put. He said describing Pakistan in those terms was disrespectful to both teams.

"Absolutely we have found [Pakistan] a challenge. I think that's a bit disrespectful to both Pakistan as a team and to us as a team," said Joe Root while talking to the reporters ahead of the third Test match.

Root then gave a more realistic view about the situation, saying England had played much better cricket than Pakistan that didn’t allow them to find any free room in the match.

"I don't think we've allowed them to get into games because of how well we've played as well and how quickly we've read the situations and the surfaces that we've had.” added Joe Root.

Root then rejected the perception in the media, saying every team wants to perform well on the field, but only one side gets its plans and execution right in the middle.

"I think it's very easy to say one team is excellent and one team is poor. Normally it's somewhere in the middle." said Joe Root.

"If one team has been outstanding then the other team can't have been poor and vice-versa. I think it's important to live in that middle area somewhere and understand that that's not how it is.” added Joe Root.

The England captain then cautioned his team to not take things for granted, as the third Test could bring new challenges for them.

"Regardless of what's happened over the last two games, this week it's a completely different proposition for us.” said Joe Root.