'They've done really well' - Cook lauds England's pace attack after Pak series

England completed a 3-0 Test series whitewash of Pakistan, with the final match concluding at Edgbaston on September 12, 2026. The series was dominated by England's pace bowling, with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue leading the attack throughout.

Robinson was the standout performer, taking 21 wickets at an average of 8.76 and was named Player of the Series. Tongue was equally impressive, claiming 19 wickets at an average of 16.31. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson also played important roles in England's series victory. Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook praised the four-pronged pace attack for their collective effort across the series.

"Well, you need a balanced attack. You look at the best attack in the world over the last few years, it's been the Australian attack, you know, Mitchell Starc, left-arm, Cummins is different to Hazlewood," Cook said on BBC Test Match Special.

Why did England go with four pace bowlers?

England's decision to field four specialist pace bowlers was not entirely planned from the outset. The absence of Sam Curran due to a fitness issue prompted the team management to reassess their bowling combination and lean into their pace resources. Cook explained the thinking behind the approach, attributing it to circumstance as much as strategy.

"Actually, England's four quicks, I think they stumbled upon a little bit because they mentioned Sam Curran. If Sam Curran had been fit, I think he would have played to give that balance. But actually, they've now, because he wasn't fit, they said, what's our super strength? Our super strength are the four quick bowlers and they've done really well," Cook said.

The four bowlers, Robinson, Tongue, Archer and Atkinson, collectively accounted for 56 of the 58 wickets England took during the series, underlining how central the pace unit was to the team's success.

What pleased Cook most about England's pace group?

Beyond the wicket tallies, Cook pointed to the physical durability of England's pace bowlers as the most encouraging aspect of the series. Staying fit across a demanding Test series is a challenge for any fast bowling group, and Cook noted that England's quartet managed it well.

"What's, I think, pleased me most is actually they've stayed fit. So, they stayed fit, they've got some real good mileage in test cricket and you need that resilience. And you see in a group, they probably won't be able to play every single game, but a resilient group, learn together, they didn't have the best day yesterday, not just at the end. In general, they weren't at their absolute best, but you look at them, they've got a good potential," Cook concluded.

Cook's remarks underline that despite a below-par final day from the attack, the broader picture across the three-Test series was one of consistent and effective pace bowling from England.