LEEDS, United Kingdom: England launched their post-Bazball era with an innings and 103-run thrashing of Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley on Friday.
Pakistan, who had been 51-2 in their second innings, lost four wickets for 25 runs on the way to being dismissed for just 135.
England pacemen Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson, who took all 10 wickets between them in Pakistan’s meagre first-innings 171, once again did plenty of damage after express quick Jofra Archer removed both openers.
England’s Jofra Archer celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq on the day three of the first test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
The England trio took three wickets apiece on Friday.
Recalled seamer Robinson was named player of the match for his overall figures of 8-80, while Tongue finished with 8-89.
A comprehensive win with more than two days remaining was an ideal way for Joe Root to begin his second stint as full-time England Test captain.
Former skipper Ben Stokes retired from international duty after a series loss at home to New Zealand in June, shortly before Brendon McCullum was sacked as red-ball coach.
This was just England’s third win in 11 Tests, albeit one achieved against a weak Pakistan side.
England’s Joe Root (center) shakes hands with Pakistan players after England win by an Innings and 103 runs on day three of the first test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England, on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
England, 366-8 overnight, posted 409 for a huge first-innings lead of 238.
Harry Brook (91), Jordan Cox (73), Root (66) and the recalled Dan Lawrence (51) all made fifties on Thursday without any of the England quartet going onto a hundred.
Pakistan left-arm spinner Ali Usman’s 5-95 — his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket — was a rare highlight for the tourists.
For the second time in the match, Pakistan were 0-1 on Friday when Archer dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for a duck as the left-hander, trying to evade a short delivery, gloved the ball to wicket-keeper Jamie Smith.
TACTICAL COUP
Azan Awais, out for a golden duck in the first innings, had made nine when he clipped Archer straight to Root at the rarely used position of leg slip.
It was something of a tactical coup for Root, like Brook playing in front of his home crowd, with Pakistan now 13-2.
England’s Dan Lawrence (right) celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Pakistan’s Muhammad Abbas as England win by an Innings and 103 runs on day three of the first test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
Abdullah Shafique’s 61 had been the standout display in Pakistan’s first innings. But he could only manage 15 before he edged a full-length ball from Robinson to Brook at second slip.
Pakistan were 59-3 at lunch but they soon found themselves 76-6 following a triple strike from Tongue that included two wickets in an over.
Shan Masood, a former Yorkshire player used to playing at Headingley, nicked Tongue to first slip for 29 and, four balls later, Pakistan were 76-6 when stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha was lbw to the fast bowler.
Agha, leading the side in place of the injured Babar Azam, reviewed but replays indicated the ball would have clipped leg stump.
Mohammad Rizwan briefly kept England at bay with 41 — the top score of the innings — at better than a run-a-ball before he was bowled by Gus Atkinson to leave Pakistan on the brink of defeat at 131-9.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan is bowled by England’s Gus Atkinson on day three of the first test match between England and Pakistan at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
The match ended when Mohammad Abbas holed out off Archer, who had innings figures of 3-50 in 10.3 overs.
Pakistan, who last won a red-ball series in England 30 years ago, do not have long to regroup, with the second Test at Lord’s starting on Thursday.
