England captain blames new balls for batting woes as series heads for finale

England wrapped up a 2‑0 advantage in the three‑match Test series against Pakistan with a 194‑run victory at Lord's on Sunday. The win left the hosts unbeaten and highlighted a season where batsmen have struggled to reach three‑figure scores.

Bowling runs the show

Only two individual centuries have been recorded in the first two Tests of the summer, and neither side managed a hundred in the opening matches of this series. England bowler Ollie Robinson has taken 23 wickets at an astonishing average of 8.34, cementing his role as the spearhead of a bowling attack that has kept both teams under 200 runs in four innings combined.

Root points to a different ball

After the decisive win, captain Joe Root said the equipment itself may be part of the problem.

"I think the balls have been very different this year. I think there's a different lacquer on them. I've not got evidence on that, I probably need to ask Dukes, but I think there's a lacquer on the seam. They don't want them to go out of shape and get them changed."

Root added that the balls appear firmer, which could be causing pitches to behave more like a seam‑friendly surface.

He also noted that conditions, overcast skies and occasional rain, combined with the altered ball to create what he called a "perfect storm" for bowlers.

With the series now set for a final Test, the focus will shift to whether the English side can adapt their batting approach or whether the ball’s specifications will be reviewed by the governing bodies.

Any adjustment to the ball could have ripple effects across the international calendar, potentially reshaping how teams prepare for the demanding conditions of English summer cricket.