Joe Root celebrated his first Test win as England's permanent captain in spectacular fashion, steering his side to an innings and 103‑run triumph over Pakistan at Headingley. The visitors, who had been bundled out for a meagre 171 in just 48.1 overs on the opening day, collapsed again on day three, this time for 135 in 37.3 overs, after England posted a formidable 409 in their only innings.
England’s bowlers were the engine of the victory. Jofra Archer, who had a shaky start in the first innings, bounced back with figures of 3‑50, breaking through early to leave Pakistan reeling at 13‑2. After the lunch interval, Josh Tongue delivered a devastating spell, taking three wickets for 43 runs, including the dismissal of Shan Masood, who had managed 29 runs. Their combined pressure ensured that the Pakistani batting line‑up never recovered, effectively ending any hope of extending the match beyond day three.
Root’s captaincy was highlighted by several sharp fielding moments. Azan Awais (9) edged a ball from Archer to the leg‑slip, while Saud Shakeel (14) was caught by Dan Lawrence in an unconventional backward‑square position off Tongue’s delivery. These catches underscored England’s aggressive field placements and added to the visitors’ mounting woes.
Gus Atkinson contributed a tidy 1‑11, dismissing the top‑scoring Mohammad Rizwan (41) and bringing England close to sealing the game. Meanwhile, Mohammad Abbas (6) mis‑fielded a ball that allowed Archer to run out Lawrence, and Ollie Robinson (3‑29) partnered with Tongue to claim eight wickets between them, cementing England’s dominance. The win marks only the third victory for England in their last eleven Tests. If they can replicate this performance in the upcoming second Test at Lord's, scheduled for Thursday at 11 am (first ball) and broadcast live on Sky Sports, they will clinch their first series win since the 2‑1 triumph in New Zealand in December 2024.
Although England had comfortably beaten Zimbabwe in a one‑off match at Trent Bridge last summer, recent form has been mixed: a 2‑2 draw against India, a 4‑1 drubbing in Australia, and a 2‑1 home series loss to New Zealand. The upcoming series against Pakistan will be streamed on NOW, and fans can follow live scores via the Sky Sports app. While this victory provides a promising start for Root’s tenure, tougher challenges lie ahead. A three‑match assignment against Pakistan may test the new captain’s resolve, but the real examinations will arrive in South Africa during Stephen Fleming’s inaugural series as head coach and, of course, the next Ashes tour.
England’s run‑rate of 4.55 runs per over reflected a combination of Pakistan’s erratic bowling and occasional lapses in fielding, rather than a pure exhibition of Bazball‑style aggression. Nevertheless, Harry Brook displayed commendable restraint, scoring a brisk 91 off 93 balls, anchoring the innings alongside Root’s own half‑century. Both Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue claimed five‑wicket hauls in the first innings, underscoring England’s relentless bowling attack. Additional contributions came from recalled players Dan Lawrence and Jordan Cox, who added valuable runs.
One of the few low points for England was Jamie Smith’s dismissal. He fell for 25 after a seemingly innocuous short ball from Khurram Shahzad (3‑133) was edged to mid‑wicket.
At the time, England were 366‑8 on day three, leading by 195 runs. Around this wicket, Archer (23 not out) and Tongue (8) struck quick boundaries, with Archer hitting the only six of the match off Khurram’s leg‑side delivery.
Archer then targeted Pakistan’s openers, forcing Imam to mis‑field and allowing Smith to be caught. He later dismissed Azan, who had escaped a pair after being lbw to Robinson on the first ball of the series.
Abdullah Shafique (15) and Shan Masood steadied the innings briefly, but Shafique soon edged a Robinson delivery to Brook at second slip, ending his stay. Tongue continued his on‑fire spell by removing Saud, Masood, and stand‑in captain Salman Ali Agha—who was covering for the injured Babar Azam—within a single over. Masood was caught at slip, and Salman was bowled out by a sharp bouncer.
The breakthrough came when Ali Usman (7), who had taken a solitary five‑wicket haul for Pakistan, fell to an exceptional diving catch by Jordan Cox off a lofted delivery that had glanced off Smith’s thigh. Pakistan’s collapse accelerated when Rizwan, in a moment of mis‑judgment, offered a tail‑ender, Khurram (8), a simple catch to Robinson just one ball into an over. The No 9 was nicked off, epitomising the numerous fielding errors that plagued the Pakistani side in Yorkshire.
The second Test at Lord's will be streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 am on Thursday, with the first ball at 11 am. Fans can also watch on NOW without a contract. All matches start at 11 am UK and Ireland time and are available across Sky Sports platforms. Overall, England’s comprehensive victory at Headingley sets a positive tone for Root’s captaincy, showcasing a blend of disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and calculated batting.
While the series against Pakistan may lack the high‑octane intensity of a traditional rivalry, it provides a valuable platform for England to refine strategies ahead of more demanding contests in South Africa and the forthcoming Ashes. The team’s ability to maintain pressure, seize key moments, and adapt to evolving conditions will be crucial as they aim to convert this early success into a full‑series win.