Joe Root’s first match back as England’s Test captain could not have unfolded more favourably. The visitors wrapped up a three‑day victory and earned a weekend’s rest, a result that highlighted England’s resurgence and, by contrast, underscored Pakistan’s profound shortcomings. One of the more amusing side‑notes was fast‑bowler Josh Tongue being able to tune in to Manchester United’s Saturday‑lunchtime Premier League opener against Hull City.
That luxury was afforded not only by England’s dominant display but also by Pakistan’s inability to sustain any meaningful pressure. The contest began on a Wednesday and was concluded before the tea break on Friday. Had the weather held up for the first two days, the match might even have been wrapped up by Thursday evening.
The rapid pace of the game left little time to gauge how much genuine progress England has made since the summer’s reset against New Zealand at Lord’s, when a similarly swift finish made assessment difficult. In June, England’s encounter with the Black Caps was curtailed to just 166 overs largely because of a sub‑standard pitch. This week at Headingley, it was Pakistan’s lack of quality that caused the Test to finish after 175.3 overs. The pitch itself was serviceable, but the visitors’ batting, bowling and fielding were all sub‑par, producing a shock on every front.
Those observations should be taken as a caveat when judging England’s performance. Pakistan’s myriad problems do not erase the home side’s solid display.
### England’s Ratings: Robinson and Tongue Shine Root did not attempt to imitate his predecessor Ben Stokes; instead, he charted his own course. While it is still premature to label this a permanent new England, there were several take‑aways, especially regarding Root’s captaincy.
The Yorkshireman entered the match after a difficult first spell in charge, which saw a string of defeats and the added strain of navigating COVID‑related bubbles. Yet on his familiar ground he appeared refreshed, guiding England to a record‑extending 28th win under his leadership. Root’s field‑placement adjustments were noteworthy. He moved from slip to mid‑off to stay closer to his bowlers, then later shifted to leg‑slip, where he took a sharp catch off Jofra Archer to dismiss Azan Awais.
His decision to pull Archer from the attack after two ineffective overs with the new ball on day one demonstrated a willingness to make bold tactical changes without trying to emulate Stokes’ more flamboyant style. Harry Brook, the vice‑captain, also displayed a new level of maturity.
Rather than relying on his usual flamboyant stroke‑play, Brook adopted a more orthodox, restrained approach, waiting for Pakistan to deliver a loose delivery before committing to a shot. He later told Sky Sports that there was no need for “rash shots”. If he can blend that measured temperament with his natural explosiveness, his ceiling is virtually limitless. England’s batting as a unit was assured and clinical.
There was no sign of the high‑risk “Bazball” philosophy; instead, the side executed positive, well‑timed strokes against an undeniably weak Pakistani attack. The depth of the middle order was evident, with Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence providing sprightly half‑centuries after stepping in for the injured Jacob Bethell and the retired Ben Stokes.
Cox, in particular, seemed at home at this level. Pakistan’s inability to post a respectable total meant we could not fully evaluate whether Lawrence should become England’s primary spin option alongside a four‑bowler pace attack.
Lawrence bowled only a single over, and the success of the pace quartet—Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson—suggests a frontline spinner may not be required for the second Test. While a spinner could improve the over‑rate, England’s strength clearly lies with its quicks. The overarching lesson, however, is that the Pakistan side was simply not competitive.
They were missing captain and premier batsman Babar Azam due to a hand injury and lost the toss, forcing them to bat first under overcast skies. While Pakistan has a history of dramatic comebacks, the current line‑up appeared ill‑adjusted to English conditions, their bowling lacked the traditional venom, and their fielding at Headingley was embarrassingly poor. The sparse presence of Pakistani supporters in the stadium further highlighted the disconnect between the team and its fan base.
Looking ahead, the series could become a long one for Pakistan in terms of the number of matches, but a very short one in terms of actual playing time if rain continues to intervene. England are likely to secure comfortable victories at Lord’s and Edgbaston, provided the weather cooperates.
Babar’s eventual return will undoubtedly strengthen Pakistan’s batting, but the team still lacks the express pace that once defined its bowling heritage—from legends such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Qadir. The current attack feels generic and predictable.
England have embraced a series of resets in recent months, and perhaps it is Pakistan’s turn to undergo a similar transformation after losing 14 of their last 19 Tests. While a weekend break is always welcome, Pakistan is unlikely to enjoy it after a match that could hardly have gone worse. Fans can catch day one of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 am Thursday (11 am for the first ball).
All games are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with 11 am start times for the UK and Ireland.