England once again exposed a woeful Pakistani batting display on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston, wrapping up the visitors for 133 runs and then reaching 156 for four wickets in their own reply, thereby carving out a 23‑run lead. The day was marked by a series of dramatic moments, standout performances and a clear shift in momentum that favoured the hosts.
Pakistan’s innings collapsed quickly, lasting just 33.5 overs – their briefest effort of the series and a stark illustration of the batting woes that have plagued them throughout the tour. The team managed only 133 runs before being bowled out, with Saud Shakeel top‑scoring with 43 and Mohammad Abbas contributing 21. England’s pace attack was relentless: Josh Tongue claimed four wickets for 42 runs, striking out the captain Babar Azam for a modest seven, while also removing Mohammad Imran and the lone bright spot Saud Shakeel. Ollie Robinson was exceptionally economical, taking three for 15, and Jofra Archer added three for 25.
The Pakistani bowlers, on the other hand, struggled to make any impact, with debutant Razaullah delivering a memorable spell of 2‑42 that would later prove decisive. When England took to the crease, they found themselves in a precarious position at 39 for three after a wobble from their top order.
Joe Root, who had been dismissed leg‑before‑wicket for the tenth time in 13 innings by the young Pakistani pacer, fell for just eight runs. However, the lower order rescued the innings. Emilio Gay, who had been playing with quiet confidence, produced a fluent 60, while Harry Brook, unbeaten on 52, partnered with Gay to forge a 104‑run stand for the fourth wicket. Their partnership not only steadied the ship but also propelled England into a modest lead of 23 runs.
The day also featured several personal milestones and notable comments. Ollie Robinson celebrated his 100th Test wicket, a testament to his consistency and skill in the longest format. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, expressed satisfaction with the day’s outcome: "Really pleased with the day.
Winning the toss, putting Pakistan in to bat and then bowling them out for just over 130 puts us in a strong position. The pitch looked good, so to get them out cheaply was a great achievement for our bowlers." He also mentioned experimenting with a wobble delivery in the nets, which paid dividends when he claimed a wicket during the session.
Pakistan’s recent history added further context to their performance. After a crushing 194‑run defeat at Lord’s that handed England the series with a match to spare, Pakistan undertook a sweeping overhaul of both their playing squad and coaching staff ahead of the final Test. Seven players were dropped entirely, four changes were made to the starting XI, and three newcomers made their Test debuts.
Among the debutants, fast bowler Razaullah, only 21 years old, made an immediate impact by dismissing the world‑renowned Joe Root with his fourth delivery in Test cricket – a delivery that Nasser Hussain of Sky Sports described as "a devastating nip‑backer". Hussain also praised Razaullah’s spell, noting that it offered a different dimension to Pakistan’s bowling attack. Urooj Mumtaz, another Sky Sports analyst, highlighted the significance of Razaullah’s performance, emphasizing his youth and the fact that it was his first overseas tour: "He’s 21, first time on a plane out of Pakistan, and he takes the wicket of one of the greatest batsmen with his fourth ball.
His pace stayed in the high 80s to low 90s throughout his spell, providing the X‑factor Pakistan needed." This sentiment echoed the broader narrative that Pakistan’s bowlers, despite being inexperienced, have shown flashes of brilliance that could turn the tide if harnessed correctly. The match also featured a number of other noteworthy incidents. Saim Ayub, the only debutant with prior Test experience, was dismissed for a golden duck by Robinson in the third over, a harsh introduction to the English conditions.
Robinson also removed Abdullah Shafique for three runs, while Archer claimed wickets of Azan Awais and Shan Masood, both of whom fell to simple catches. The Pakistani lower order displayed a glimmer of resistance: Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali added 26 runs for the final wicket, the highest partnership in an otherwise dismal innings. Ali, despite suffering an ankle injury earlier, opened the bowling for Pakistan and managed to edge Ben Duckett out in the fourth over. England’s bowlers continued to apply pressure throughout the day.
After the early breakthroughs, Tongue’s disciplined line and length forced Babar Azam into a defensive stance, while his use of the yorker proved lethal. The combination of Archer’s pace and Robinson’s accuracy ensured that Pakistan never settled, and the early dismissal of their top order set the tone for the remainder of the innings. Looking ahead, the statistics underscore Pakistan’s struggles: they have failed to bat through a full 90‑over day’s play across both innings of the first two Tests.
Unless they can engineer a dramatic turnaround this week, the pattern is likely to continue. The extensive changes made to the squad suggest a desire to inject fresh energy, but the results on day one indicate that more work is required, particularly in building partnerships and handling England’s disciplined fast bowling.
The day concluded with a preview of the upcoming second day of the third Test, set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15 am on Thursday. Fans without a Sky subscription are encouraged to explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream via NOW with no contract required.
All matches will be available live on Sky Sports, offering cricket enthusiasts a chance to witness whether England can extend their lead or if Pakistan can mount a comeback in the remaining sessions of the series.