Captain Joe Root said England are in a better place at the end of their tumultuous summer than at the start after he helped seal a 3-0 series win over Pakistan.

Root hit 62 not out and Jordan Cox ended unbeaten on 59 as England survived a scare to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston.

It provided a successful end to a summer that has included the shock retirement of captain Ben Stokes, the sacking of Test coach Brendon McCullum and various off-field issues.

“In chaos you learn a lot about the group of players you have,” Root said.

“For us to have come through this series in the manner we have done, the way we’ve gone about our cricket, and gone about things has been really pleasing.”

Root first regained the captaincy for the second Test against New Zealand in June after Stokes – who had been backed to remain in post alongside McCullum after last winter’s Ashes defeat by Australia – was left out after breaking a team curfew.

After Stokes retired following the series defeat by New Zealand a Test later, McCullum was sacked and Root given the captaincy on a full-time basis for a second time.

Amid changes in personnel given the absence of Stokes, Root, who was Test captain from 2017 to 2022, has brought a calming presence to the role.

A side previously questioned for their professionalism has appeared more mature and adaptable, though the build-up to the second Test was overshadowed an incident involving bowler Brydon Carse outside a nightclub in Derby.

“There’s been a lot of chaos around this series before a ball was bowled and the way we’ve handled it on and off the field, the way everyone understands what is expected of them – both as a player and how we want to carry ourselves – is a really good thing,” Root said.

“The start of the series we wanted 3-0 and we’ve been clinical enough to do that.”

Players such as Dan Lawrence, who came into the side in place of Stokes, and Cox have impressed, as had the four-man pace attack until struggles against the Pakistan lower order on Friday in Birmingham.

Root said he believed the team’s development off the field is most significant.

“We’re not the finished article,” Root told BBC Test Match Special. “We’re not going to kid ourselves. That’ll be a constant work [in progress].

“The culture of this team is not something that’s going to happen overnight, it’s something we’re going to have to live and breathe day in, day out.

“But there’s no reason we can’t.

“It’s a good set of lads, really good guys that work incredibly hard and performances like this and commitment to what we’re trying to achieve, both on and off the field, will be what earns trust and respect to everyone that supports us.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan agreed the team is a “work in progress”.

“We can’t judge this England team against Pakistan,” he said.

“Let’s not get too excited but what you see is a huge amount of talent.

“You have Jordan Cox looking so calm, England’s greatest [Root] at number four, Harry Brook a generational talent, Dan Lawrence has fitted in lovely and Jamie Smith, whose keeping has been brilliant and batting has looked good.

“The bowling attack has everything.

“But they have not won a five-Test series since 2017. That is what you get judged on.”