Joe Root delighted with England's 'match-winning' all-rounders

"South Africa put us under pressure throughout but the way our guys responded has been exceptional."

England captain Joe Root and Man of the Series Moeen Ali reflect on the 3-1 series victory over South Africa

Joe Root saluted England's "match-winning" all-rounders and suggested he will stick with the current balance of the side after the hosts secured a series win over South Africa.

Moeen Ali was named Man of the Series after taking 25 wickets with his off-spin - including a hat-trick to win the third Test at The Oval and 5-69 as England triumphed in the fourth at Old Trafford - as well as scoring 252 runs, with fifties at Lord's and in Manchester.

Ben Stokes' composed century in the third Test helped pave the way for a 239-run success, while the Durham man also pocketed two fifties and took seven wickets.

England replaced Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson with batsman Middlesex Dawid Malan after their second-Test hammering at Trent Bridge and Root seems happy to stick with the five-batter ploy.

Image: England captain Joe Root celebrates the wicket of Heino Kuhn of South Africa

"That is [potentially] the way going forward - I think it is important to assess conditions but we have looked very dangerous over these last two games.

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"When you have match-winners, like we do in the middle-order with both bat and ball, it is a great luxury.

"We have had to overcome a number of different challenges but we have been brilliant as a unit, especially in the last two games.

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"We have a lot of hard work to do in the future but I am really pleased with the way this series has gone. South Africa put us under pressure throughout but the way our guys responded has been exceptional."

Trevor Bayliss discusses England's batting issues after their Test triumph over South Africa

Ali struck a fiery 75 not out from 66 balls helped England set South Africa a victory target of 380 at Old Trafford before his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests skittled the Proteas for 202.

"I have felt in good rhythm having done a lot of work with bowling coaches [Saqlain Mushtaq and Ottis Gibson]," said the all-rounder.

"I have felt I have got a lot of consistency. This [Old Trafford] pitch was great to bowl on if you got it in a good area and put a lot of revs on it.

"I felt I needed [a counter-attack] when I came into bat - I didn't really back my defence as much so I just went out and played some shots. No 8 is a good spot to bat sometimes."

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