Joe Root’s second tenure as England’s Test captain got off to a spectacular start at Headingley, where his side dismissed Pakistan for just 171 runs. The English bowlers, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue, each claimed five wickets, turning the match in England’s favour after a lengthy rain interruption and a brief resurgence from the visitors. Root has resumed the captaincy after Ben Stokes unexpectedly retired from international cricket in June. He inherits a side that has struggled, having suffered seven defeats and managed only a single win in their previous ten matches across series against India, Australia and New Zealand.
The pressure is on him to reverse England’s fortunes and restore confidence. The day began under overcast skies, with rain halting play from 11:50 am until 1:45 pm. When the umpires finally called the game back into action, Pakistan’s opening pair, Abdullah Shafique (61) and Imam‑ul‑Haq (42), had already put together a solid 91‑run partnership for the sixth wicket. However, the English bowlers soon made inroads.
In just 48.1 overs, Pakistan were bowled out for 171, leaving England a modest 112‑2 after 25 overs, still 59 runs behind. England’s early batting effort featured a resilient 37‑run knock from captain Joe Root, who remained not out, and a quick‑fire 33 from Emilio Gay.
Jordan Cox contributed 23 runs without being dismissed, while Ben Duckett fell for 15, trapped lbw by Mohammad Abbas. The partnership between Root and Cox, worth 64 runs, carried the hosts safely to the tea break at 7:30 pm.
Root’s first spell as captain, which originally ran from 2017 to 2022, preceded the now‑famous “Bazball” era. This time, he won the toss under heavy, leaden clouds at his home ground and elected to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Robinson’s opening spell was lethal: he dismissed opening batsman Azan Awais for a golden duck, the first first‑ball wicket of a Test in England in 19 years, and soon after trapped Shan Masood leg‑before‑wicket.
When play resumed after the rain, Pakistan’s innings briefly steadied at 97‑3, but Tongue’s persistence paid off. He edged Imam‑ul‑Haq for a catch, triggering a collapse that saw the visitors lose their final eight wickets for just 74 runs, the last five falling for a mere 21.
Robinson continued his dominance, removing Shafique with a spectacular delivery that swung sharply, and then dismissing Saud Shakeel lbw after the batsman’s review request was denied. Tongue was on the brink of a hat‑trick when, after tea, he dismissed stand‑in Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha (21) and then Ali Usman for a duck. Khurram Shahzad (14) prevented the hat‑trick with a powerful cover‑driven four, but Tongue soon returned to claim two more wickets, including Mohammad Rizwan (12) lbw and Mohammad Abbas (2) bowled, securing his second five‑wicket haul of the summer. Robinson’s figures of 5‑51 marked his fifth five‑for in Test cricket and his second of the current season.
Earlier in the summer, he had shone against New Zealand at Lord’s, taking a triple‑wicket maiden and finishing with seven wickets, earning the Player of the Match award. His line and length at Headingley were equally precise, underscoring his status as one of England’s premier seamers. In contrast, Jofra Archer struggled to find his rhythm, ending with figures of 0‑26 from nine overs. He leaked runs, particularly in his fourth over, and appeared out of practice, perhaps due to his recent focus on limited‑overs cricket.
Archer’s early dismissal after two overs, when sharing the new ball with Robinson, highlighted the challenges he faced in adapting to the red‑ball format. Pakistan’s top scorer, Abdullah Shafique, entered the Test after a fifty in a warm‑up game against a County Select XI and a unbeaten 160 in a recent West Indies win. He seemed comfortable in the longer format, crafting a sixth‑Test half‑century from 82 balls before falling to Robinson’s sharp delivery.
Emilio Gay, who had been dismissed for a pair in the County warm‑up, opened his Leeds innings with a nervous single but soon settled, playing a series of elegant strokes and boundary hits before being caught at slip. His 33‑run contribution helped England stay within touching distance of the target. Looking ahead, the forecast for Thursday is bleak, with rain likely to delay the next session.
Nonetheless, England will head into the second day in a commanding position, having restricted Pakistan’s seam attack and built a solid partnership at the top of the order. The Pakistani bowlers, Khurram Shahzad and Ali Usman, were unable to match the accuracy of England’s pacers, conceding runs at a steady rate.
Josh Tongue, reflecting on the day’s events, told Sky Sports, “We’re in a great position now, but that first hour tomorrow morning could be crucial. If we focus on that early spell, we can build a substantial lead.
Our bowling unit performed exceptionally, and Robinson was outstanding—much like his display at Lord’s against New Zealand. When he hits his lines and lengths, he’s a nightmare for any batsman.” The second day of the first Test between England and Pakistan is set to begin at 11 am, weather permitting, with the hosts looking to extend their lead and push Pakistan further behind.
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