Joe Root’s second tenure as England’s Test skipper kicked off in spectacular fashion at Headingley, where his side dismissed Pakistan for just 171 runs. Both Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue produced remarkable five‑wicket hauls, capitalising on a long rain interruption and a brief resurgence from the visitors. Root has been reinstated as captain after Ben Stokes’ unexpected retirement in June. He inherits a side that has struggled, recording seven defeats and only a single win in its last ten matches across series against India, Australia and New Zealand.
The pressure is on him to reverse England’s fortunes, and the opening day at Leeds offered an early sign that he may be up to the task. The day began with a wet spell that halted play from 11:50 am until 1:45 pm. When the rain finally cleared, Pakistan’s opening pair, Abdullah Shafique (61) and Imam‑ul‑Haq (42), forged a solid 91‑run partnership for the sixth wicket, giving the tourists a respectable platform.
However, England’s bowlers soon turned the tide. Robinson claimed five wickets for 51 runs, while Tongue took five for 46, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings in just 48.1 overs. England’s reply was steady but cautious. At the close of day one, the hosts were 112 for 2 after 25 overs, trailing by 59 runs.
Joe Root contributed an unbeaten 37, Emilio Gay added 33, and newcomer Jordan Cox, who replaced the injured Jacob Bethell at number three, made a useful 23 not out. Their partnership of 64 runs carried the side to the 7:30 pm stumps. Root’s earlier spell as captain, from 2017 to 2022, preceded the high‑octane “Bazball” era.
This time, he won the toss under overcast conditions at his home ground and elected to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Robinson’s opening spell was particularly incisive; he trapped Azan Awais lbw on the very first ball of the match – a rare feat in England that had not occurred in 19 years – and then dismissed Shan Masood leg‑before‑wicket. When play resumed after the rain, Pakistan slipped to 23 for 2 in 9.4 overs. England’s two unsuccessful reviews added to the tension, but the visitors rallied to 97 for 3 before Tongue’s spell of swing and seam triggered a dramatic collapse.
Pakistan lost their final eight wickets for just 74 runs, with the last five falling for a mere 21. Robinson dismissed Shafique with a spectacular delivery that swung sharply, and later bowled Saud Shakeel lbw after a marginal review decision. Tongue was on the verge of a hat‑trick after dismissing stand‑in captain Salman Ali Agha (21) and then trapping Ali Usman lbw before the tea break.
Khurram Shahzad (14) prevented the hat‑trick with a powerful cover‑driven four, but Tongue still secured his fourth Test five‑for by removing Mohammad Rizwan (12) lbw and then clean‑bowling Mohammad Abbas (2) off the off‑stump. Robinson’s achievement marked his fifth five‑wicket haul in Test cricket and his second of the summer.
He could have claimed it a few balls earlier, but a misfield by Gus Atkinson gave the ball away. Nonetheless, Robinson’s accuracy mirrored his performance in the series opener against New Zealand at Lord’s, where he took seven wickets and was named Player of the Match.
In contrast, Jofra Archer struggled to find his rhythm, conceding 12 runs in his fourth over and ending with figures of 0‑26 from nine overs. His line and length appeared more suited to white‑ball formats, and he was removed from the new‑ball attack after just two overs. Abdullah Shafique entered the Test after a solid fifty in a warm‑up match against a County Select XI and an unbeaten 160 in a recent West Indies win. He seemed comfortable in the red‑ball format, compiling a sixth Test half‑century from 82 balls before falling to Robinson’s sharp delivery.
Emilio Gay, who had previously scored a pair in the County XI warm‑up, opened his Leeds innings with a nervous single but soon settled, hitting several elegant boundaries before being caught at slip off Mohammad Abbas. Looking ahead, Thursday’s weather forecast is bleak, suggesting a long wait before England resumes batting. However, the team is in a strong position, with Pakistan’s seamers Khurram and Ali unable to match England’s precision.
Root’s calm demeanor at the crease further solidifies England’s advantage. Josh Tongue, reflecting on the day’s performance, told Sky Sports: “We’re in a great position now, but that first hour tomorrow morning could be decisive. If we focus on that opening spell, we can build a solid lead.
Our bowling unit performed exceptionally, and Ollie was outstanding – similar to his display at Lord’s against New Zealand. When he hits his lines and lengths, he’s a formidable bowler.” Day two of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley is set to begin at 11 am, weather permitting, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. The match promises further excitement as England looks to consolidate its early dominance and Root aims to steer his side back to winning ways.