RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Cricket Correspondent at Headingley Published 21 August 2026, 15:51 BST Updated 2 hours ago First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day three of five)
Pakistan 171: Shafique 61; Tongue 5-46, Robinson 5-51 & 135: Rizwan 41
England 409: Brook 91, Cox 73, Root 66; Usman 5-95
England won by an innings and 103 runs, lead three-match series 1-0
England began Joe Root's second stint as captain with a crushing defeat of a poor Pakistan inside three days at Headingley.
Root's side steamrollered the tourists for 135 in their second innings to win the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and take the lead in the three-match series.
After months of off-field chaos and poor results culminated in the retirement of former captain Ben Stokes and the sacking of Brendon McCullum as Test coach, this was a welcome win for England – only their third in 11 matches.
But it is hard to say they have learned a great deal from this week in Leeds, given the dismal showing of the opposition. The Stokes-McCullum Bazballers would also have enjoyed a handsome win.
After two days, the most pressing question hanging over the contest was whether the visitors could survive until the weekend.
England pushed their overnight 366-8 to 409, leaving Pakistan needing 238 to make the hosts bat again. Jofra Archer removed Imam-ul-Haq from the 11th delivery of the innings and the procession was under way.
Josh Tongue took three wickets in two overs immediately after lunch for match figures of 8-89, while Ollie Robinson ended with a career-best match haul of 8-80.
England will win the series with victory in the second Test at Lord's, beginning on Thursday.
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England ease into new Root era Four years after a first stint as captain left him broken, Root could not have hoped for a more straightforward start to his second spell in charge.
Already the record-holder for most Test wins as England captain, this was Root's 27th success from 66 matches.
From the opening day, when Root won the toss, chose to field and Robinson trapped Azan Awais lbw with the first ball of the match, England were in complete control.
In truth, this was a disappointing spectacle because Pakistan did not compete. Their batters, without injured captain Babar Azam, were unable to cope with England's seamers, the touring bowlers were wayward and their fielding was scruffy.
More broadly, there was a noticeable lack of atmosphere usually associated with the visit of a Pakistan team – no noise, horns or flags, barely any chanting in support of the tourists.
England's Stokeless formation of four frontline seamers and the off-spin of Dan Lawrence was suited to these conditions and this opposition. Jordan Cox's 73, in only his second Test, suggested he has a bright future at the highest level.
England can secure their first series win since 2024 with victory in the second Test. In June, England's win over New Zealand at Lord's was completed in little more than two days of cricket, resulting in criticism of the pitch at the home of cricket.
There could be another short Test to come.
Headingley has become a fortress for England. This is their seventh consecutive win in Leeds, a run dating back to 2018. However, England's men do not play another Test here until 2029.
It was engineered by two superb bowling performances, first when Tongue and Robinson combined to dismiss Pakistan for 171 on Wednesday, followed by this rout on Friday.
Archer was below-par on day one, yet looked back to his best on day three. He was too hostile for Imam, who gloved behind, then Awais clipped to Root at leg slip. It was the first of two catches taken by fielders posted on the leg side by Root, who had a good day tactically.
Robinson switched ends to replace Archer and took the edge of Abdullah Shafique to leave Pakistan three down at lunch, with Tongue causing carnage after the break.
In the space of six deliveries from Tongue, Saud Shakeel clipped a leg-stump half-volley to square leg, Shan Masood nicked to first slip and stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha was lbw to an inswinger.
Robinson was superb – metronomic accuracy and movement off the seam to consistently challenge the outside edge. Both Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad edged to Cox at second slip, the latter via a deflection from wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who was up to the stumps.
Gus Atkinson was at risk of ending the match wicketless, but after Mohammad Rizwan battled for 41 he was bowled swiping across the line, and Archer ended the match before tea with his third when Mohammad Abbas skied to gully.
Pakistan have not won a Test series in this country in 30 years and, on this showing, they will do well to avoid a 3-0 defeat this time around.
They could at least be boosted by the return of Babar at Lord's, after the captain missed out here because of a hand injury.
Bar that change, it is hard to see who from within their squad could come in to make an impact. Previous pace-bowling weapons like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are out of the Test picture.
Pakistan have a history for being unpredictable, and another sporting Lord's pitch could be a leveller.
Still, it would be a remarkable comeback if Pakistan can recover to level the series next week.
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