Joe Root's comeback as England's Test captain could not have been more auspicious. The side wrapped up a three‑day victory and earned a weekend break, a result that highlighted both England's resurgence and Pakistan's stark deficiencies.
The fast bowler Josh Tongue, a lifelong Manchester United fan, was able to catch the Saturday lunchtime Premier League opener on television largely because England dominated the match while Pakistan floundered. The contest began on a Wednesday and was finished before the tea interval on Friday.
Had the weather held up on the first two days, the game might even have been concluded by Thursday evening. This rapid pace mirrors the early‑summer reset England experienced against New Zealand at Lord's, where the swift progression of the match made it difficult to gauge the true extent of the team's improvement. In June, against the Black Caps, the infamous "Bazball" approach was hampered by a sub‑standard pitch that limited the Test to just 166 overs. At Headingley this week, the brevity of the encounter – 175.3 overs – was primarily a symptom of Pakistan's lack of quality rather than the playing surface.
The Leeds pitch itself was decent; it was Pakistan's batting, bowling and fielding that proved disastrous, delivering setbacks on all three fronts. While England's performance should be praised, Pakistan's myriad problems must be acknowledged.
The home side displayed a fine display, but the visitors’ shortcomings cannot be ignored. England's ratings surged, with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shining.
Root deliberately avoided mimicking Ben Stokes' style, opting for his own measured approach. The match was streamed on NOW and discussed on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
It is still premature to draw sweeping conclusions about this new England, especially since permanent head coach Stephen Fleming has not yet arrived in the country, although he did speak with Root by phone during the Headingley Test. Nonetheless, several lessons emerged, particularly regarding Root's captaincy. Root, a Yorkshireman, emerged from a difficult first stint as captain – marked by a string of defeats and the challenges of navigating Covid bubbles – looking refreshed on his home ground. He recorded a record‑extending 28th win in charge.
By moving from slip to mid‑off, he positioned himself closer to his bowlers, and later shifted to leg‑slip to take a crucial catch of Azan Awais off Jofra Archer. Root also demonstrated tactical ruthlessness by pulling Archer from the attack after two ineffective overs with the new ball on day one. These adjustments showed a willingness to adapt without trying to replicate Stokes' flamboyance. Harry Brook, the vice‑captain, displayed a newfound maturity.
Instead of relying on flamboyant, risky shots, he adopted a more orthodox, restrained style, waiting for Pakistan to err – and they did, repeatedly. Brook explained to Sky Sports that he preferred to let the bowlers make mistakes rather than force the action. If he can blend this measured approach with his natural brilliance, his potential is virtually limitless.
England's batting as a unit was confident and clinical, a departure from the high‑octane "Bazball" philosophy. The middle order showed depth, with Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence delivering lively 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 double collapse meant England could not fully assess whether Lawrence should become the primary spin option alongside a four‑man pace attack for the long term. Lawrence bowled only a single over in the match.
The success of the pace quartet – Robinson, Tongue, Archer and Gus Atkinson – suggests a frontline spinner may not be required for the second Test, especially since England's strength lies in its quicks. While a spinner could improve the over‑rate, it is unlikely to add significant value. The overarching lesson is the gulf in quality between the two sides.
Pakistan were missing their captain and leading batsman Babar Azam due to a hand injury and lost the toss, forcing them to bat under overcast skies on day one. Although Pakistan have a history of dramatic comebacks, their current batting line‑up appears ill‑suited to English conditions, their bowlers lack the traditional venom, and their fielding at Headingley was sub‑par. The scarcity of Pakistani supporters in the stadium was also telling, reflecting a waning connection between the fans and the team. If this series continues, England are likely to dominate at Lord's and Edgbaston, assuming the weather cooperates.
Babar's eventual return will bolster Pakistan's batting, but the pace attack lacks the express speed that once defined Pakistani cricket – the era of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Qadir seems a distant memory. England have embraced a series of resets lately; perhaps Pakistan need one as well, having lost 14 of their last 19 Tests. While a weekend off is always welcome, Pakistan will probably not enjoy theirs after a match that could hardly have been worse. Fans can watch 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 matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports with 11 am starts in the UK and Ireland.