England once again imposed their dominance over a struggling Pakistan side on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston, wrapping up the visitors for 133 and then reaching 156 for four wickets, thereby carving out a 23‑run lead. The day was defined by a mix of disciplined bowling, a few resilient half‑centuries and a stark reminder of Pakistan's ongoing batting woes. After winning the toss in overcast conditions, England elected to field, a decision that quickly proved astute as Pakistan’s innings collapsed in just 33.5 overs – their briefest effort of the series and a clear illustration of the fragile form that has plagued their top order throughout the tour. The visitors managed only 133 runs, with Saud Shakeel (43) providing the lone glimpse of resistance.
The rest of the line‑up fell cheaply, highlighted by the debutant pacer Razaullah, whose figures of two for 42 included a spectacular lbw dismissal of England captain Joe Root – the tenth time in 13 innings that Root has been caught out leg‑before‑wicket. England’s reply was steadier.
After a wobble that saw them slumped to 39 for three, Emilio Gay (60) and Harry Brook (52 not out) forged a vital partnership of 104 runs for the fourth wicket. Their stand not only rescued England from a precarious position but also pushed the score to 156 for four after 39 overs, giving the hosts a modest but meaningful lead.
The innings was underpinned by disciplined bowling from the English attack, with Josh Tongue claiming four for 42, Ollie Robinson snaring three for 15 – his 100th Test wicket – and Jofra Archer adding three for 25. The day’s bowling highlights were numerous.
Tongue’s spell was particularly incisive; he removed captain Babar Azam for seven, dismissed Mohammad Imran for five and repeatedly troubled Saud Shakeel, who had been the most successful Pakistani batsman. Archer’s pace and accuracy continued to trouble the visitors, while Robinson’s early breakthroughs, including the dismissal of debutant opener Saim Ayub for a golden duck, set the tone for the innings. Pakistan’s batting collapse was symptomatic of a larger crisis that has haunted them throughout the series. In the previous two Tests they failed to survive a full day’s play – 90 overs – across both innings, a statistic that underscores the depth of their struggles.
The 194‑run loss at Lord’s, which handed England the series with a match to spare, prompted an unprecedented overhaul of the Pakistani squad and coaching staff. Seven players were dropped, four changes were made to the starting XI, and three newcomers were handed Test debuts.
Among them, only opener Saim Ayub had prior international experience, and his early dismissal for a ten‑ball duck epitomised the pressure on the new arrivals. Robinson also claimed the wicket of Abdullah Shafique, caught in the gully, while Archer’s relentless pace forced simple catches from the likes of Azan Awais and Shan Masood, both of whom fell cheaply to mid‑wicket catches. By the close of the morning session, Pakistan were 26 for four, a testament to England’s early in‑hand aggression. Razaullah, the 21‑year‑old debutant, continued to make headlines.
After his early success with Root, he kept the pressure on with a couple of hard‑hitting drives before being caught by Ben Duckett, who had earlier suffered a couple of dropped catches in the slips. The young pacer’s ability to generate pace – recorded at 89‑91 mph – and maintain it throughout his spells impressed commentators and added a much‑needed X‑factor to England’s attack. The lower order showed a surprising degree of resilience. After the top order’s collapse, Mohammad Abbas (21) and Mohammad Ali (5 not out) added a partnership of 26 runs, the highest stand in an otherwise dismal innings.
Ali, despite a painful ankle injury sustained while batting, returned to bowl and claimed the early wicket of Duckett, edging to second slip. Josh Tongue, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket after the day’s action, expressed satisfaction with the result: "Really pleased with the day. Winning the toss, putting Pakistan in to bat and bowling them out for 130‑odd puts us in a strong position. The pitch looked good, so to get them out cheaply was a testament to our bowling plan." He also highlighted his recent work on a wobble delivery, which he felt paid dividends: "I’ve been practicing a wobble in the nets this week, and it came out nicely.
I tried it, and it got me a wicket!" Former England captain Nasser Hussain, providing analysis for Sky Sports, noted Pakistan’s ongoing search for a new bowling strategy: "Pakistan have been calling out for something different from their bowlers for a long while. It is nice to watch that spell from Razaullah that had something, that had a point of difference, had some pace. It hurried one of the greatest batters there has ever been in Joe Root, and got him out." Urooj Mumtaz, also with Sky Sports, praised the young pacer’s debut: "Twenty‑one‑year‑old, first time on a plane out of Pakistan, onto a cricketing tour and he gets one of the greatest of all time with his fourth delivery! 89mph and then just ramped it up to 91mph.
The pace throughout his spells did not drop. An inspired selection – they just needed that X‑factor." England will look to build on this platform on day two, while Pakistan must regroup quickly if they hope to avoid another low‑scoring, demoralising performance. The series has already highlighted the gulf between the two sides, and the upcoming sessions will be crucial for both teams in determining whether England can seal the series or Pakistan can spark a revival.