Joe Root has defended Pakistan despite their difficult Test series against England, insisting it would be disrespectful to suggest that the visitors have failed to put up a fight. England have dominated the first two Tests, securing a massive innings-and-103-run victory at Headingley before winning the Lord’s Test by 194 runs. Pakistan’s batting, meanwhile, has struggled badly, with the team failing to score 200 in any of their four innings so far.

The disappointing results have also triggered major changes within the Pakistan setup. Following the Lord’s defeat, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, and dropped seven players from the squad.

Speaking ahead of the third and final Test at Edgbaston, Joe Root rejected the suggestion that Pakistan had offered little resistance. “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.”

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Joe Root credited England’s own performance for preventing Pakistan from getting into winning positions and urged people not to view the series simply as one team being good and the other being poor. “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.”

The former England captain also warned his team against becoming complacent, pointing out that Pakistan still have considerable talent despite their recent struggles.

“Regardless of what’s happened over the last two games, this week it’s a completely different proposition for us. There’s a very talented group of players in that dressing room, and you’ve got to be ready for it.”

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Pakistan will enter the final Test with a less experienced squad after senior players such as Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were left out. Root believes England must therefore remain focused as Pakistan look to respond strongly at Edgbaston.