England captain Joe Root remains unfazed by a lean run of form this summer, insisting he has "14,000 runs for a reason." The 35-year-old Yorkshireman, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer with 14,208 runs, has averaged just 29.44 at home in 2024 — his second-lowest seasonal average in a 14-year career. He has been dismissed lbw nine times in his last seven Tests, seven of those this summer, primarily against right-arm seamers moving the ball back into him at around 84mph.

Root attributes the struggles to challenging UK conditions where the ball is deviating more than ever, noting several dismissals were "umpires' calls." He also suggested the Dukes ball behaves differently this year due to a changed lacquer, a claim the manufacturer denies. Despite the slump, Root backed his ability to adapt: "I've always found ways of solving those problems."

Former captain Michael Vaughan supported Root, saying he has overcome similar issues before. England secured a series win over Pakistan with a 194-run victory at Lord's, giving Root two wins in his second stint as skipper. The build-up was overshadowed by pace bowler Brydon Carse being dropped following an incident in Derby.