Root’s second era opens with decisive Test victory in Leeds
England secured a 1-0 series lead by dismissing Pakistan for 135 in the second innings, ending the first Test at Headingley inside three days.
Joe Root commenced his second tenure as England Test captain with a commanding victory over Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds. The hosts won the first Test by an innings and 103 runs, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. This result follows a period of recent inconsistency for England, who have lost two and drawn one of their last three multi-match Test series.
The match was decided before tea on day three, with England resuming play on 366-8 and a lead of 195 runs. They pushed their total to 409, leaving Pakistan needing 238 to force the hosts to bat again. Pakistan were bowled out for 171 in their first innings and 135 in their second, failing to survive until the weekend.
Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson were the standout performers for England, taking eight wickets each in the match. Tongue finished with figures of 8-89, while Robinson recorded a career-best match haul of 8-80. Jofra Archer also contributed significantly, taking five wickets for 95 runs.
The victory marks a significant step for England, who had not won a series since a 2-1 success in New Zealand in December 2024. The win comes after months of off-field chaos and poor results, which culminated in the retirement of former captain Ben Stokes and the sacking of Brendon McCullum as Test coach.
Jordan Cox scored 73 in his second Test, suggesting a bright future at the highest level. The absence of injured Pakistan captain Babar Azam was noted, as the touring side’s batters struggled to cope with England’s seamers. The match concluded with a noticeable lack of atmosphere usually associated with the visit of a Pakistan team.
England will win the series with victory in the second Test at Lord’s, which begins on Thursday. The third match of the series is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston.
