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 runs and then reaching 156 for four wickets in reply, thereby carving out a 23‑run lead. The day was defined by a series of dramatic wickets, resilient half‑centuries and a burst of confidence from England's lower order, while Pakistan’s batting continued to flounder despite a few flashes of promise.
The innings began with Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam winning the toss and electing to bowl in overcast conditions, a decision that quickly proved sensible as the English bowlers extracted movement from the damp pitch. However, after a brief spell of England’s top‑order wobble – which saw them tumble to 39 for three – the visitors found salvation in the form of two gritty half‑centuries.
Emilio Gay, the left‑handed middle‑order batsman, compiled a composed 60, while Harry Brook, batting at number six, struck an unbeaten 52. Their partnership of 104 runs for the fourth wicket steadied the innings and turned a precarious situation into a modest lead. Pakistan’s innings, on the other hand, was a textbook example of a side that cannot string together partnerships.
After a promising start from Saud Shakeel, who managed 43 runs, the Pakistani lineup collapsed dramatically. Fast bowler Josh Tongue was the most incisive weapon, claiming four wickets for 42 runs. He dismissed Babar Azam for a paltry seven, removed Mohammad Imran for five and also got the only other bright spot, Shakeel, out after a hard‑fought knock. Supporting Tongue, Ollie Robinson ran through the middle order with figures of three for 15, while Jofra Archer added three for 25.
The most striking moment came when Robinson secured his 100th Test wicket, a milestone that underscored his growing stature in the England attack. The Pakistani total of 133 was amassed in just 33.5 overs – their briefest innings of the series – highlighting a pattern that has persisted throughout the tour: an inability to bat for a full day’s play. In the first two Tests, Pakistan failed to survive a complete 90‑over session in either innings, a statistic that will haunt them as they head into the final Test with the series already lost. England’s reply began cautiously, with early wickets falling to the young Pakistani paceman Razaullah, who made an immediate impact on debut.
The 21‑year‑old bowler claimed the prized wicket of Joe Root, bowled for eight, marking Root’s tenth lbw dismissal in just 13 innings – a statistic that will surely concern England’s batting coach. Razaullah’s figures of two for 42 were a bright spot for the visitors, and his early success set the tone for England’s eventual lead. The day also featured a significant reshuffle in the Pakistani camp. Following a crushing 194‑run defeat at Lord’s that handed England the series with a match to spare, Pakistan undertook an unprecedented overhaul of both squad and coaching staff.
Seven players were omitted entirely, four changes were made to the starting eleven, and three newcomers were handed Test debuts. Among them, opener Saim Ayub, the only debutant with prior first‑class experience, was dismissed for a ten‑ball duck by Robinson in the third over – a harsh initiation that reflected the steep learning curve facing the new arrivals.
Robinson’s spell continued to wreak havoc, removing Abdullah Shafique for three and inducing a series of simple catches from the struggling Pakistani batsmen. Azan Awais and Shan Masood, both low‑order contributors, fell to straightforward mid‑wicket catches, leaving Pakistan reeling at 26 for four.
Tongue, capitalising on the pressure, delivered his signature fast‑bowling deliveries – angling in sharply, nipping away at the off‑stump, and extracting a devastating yorker that dismissed Babar Azam and later the debutant Ghazi Ghori. Razaullah, despite his youth, displayed poise with the ball, generating a couple of heavy swings of the willow before edging a delivery to Ben Duckett. Duckett, who had earlier dropped two chances in the slips, redeemed himself by taking a catch off Razaullah’s fourth ball, dismissing Root in a classic lbw.
The partnership between Gay and Brook that followed was a masterclass in rebuilding an innings under pressure. Their 104‑run stand not only erased the early damage but also propelled England into a small but valuable lead. In post‑match comments, England fast bowler Josh Tongue expressed satisfaction with the day’s outcome.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, he said, “I’m really pleased with the day. Winning the toss, putting Pakistan in to bat and then bowling them out for just over 130 gave us a strong platform. The pitch looked good, so to dismiss them cheaply was a testament to our bowling plan.” Tongue also highlighted his recent work on a wobble delivery in the nets, noting that it paid dividends when he used it to claim a wicket.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, providing analysis for Sky Sports, praised the impact of Pakistan’s new bowler Razaullah, stating, “They have been looking for something different from their bowlers for a while, and Razaullah delivered that spark with pace and variation.” He also remarked on the significance of dismissing a batsman of Joe Root’s calibre so early in his career. Urooj Mumtaz, another Sky Sports analyst, lauded the 21‑year‑old’s debut, describing it as “a remarkable moment – his first flight out of Pakistan and he immediately dismisses one of the greatest batsmen in the game on his fourth delivery.” She noted his speed, clocking between 89 and 91 mph, and commended the selectors for finding the X‑factor that Pakistan needed. The day’s events set the stage for a crucial second day at Edgbaston, with England holding a slim lead but still needing to consolidate their position. Pakistan, reeling from a heavy defeat and a massive squad overhaul, must regroup quickly if they hope to avoid a whitewash.
Fans can tune in to Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Thursday to watch the continuation of this compelling contest, with streaming options available for those without a traditional Sky subscription. Overall, the first day of the third Test encapsulated the stark contrast between the two sides: England’s disciplined bowling, opportunistic batting and strategic acumen versus Pakistan’s ongoing struggle to build innings and adapt to England’s relentless pace attack.
The narrative will undoubtedly evolve over the remaining days, but for now, England enjoys a modest advantage and the confidence that comes with a well‑executed opening day.