England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs inside three days at Headingley. As Joe Root’s second spell as permanent Test captain began with a commanding, controlled win. Pakistan, demolished for 171 on day one. Pakistan folded again for 135 in their second innings, lasting only 37.3 overs after England’s 409 in their sole knock.
Root’s inventive fields, sharper bowling changes and a disciplined batting display underpinned a performance that gave England just their third win in 11 Tests and a strong foothold in the three-match series.
Jofra Archer, improved markedly from his rusty first-innings spell, set the tone with 3-50, removing both openers early to leave Pakistan 13-2. Josh Tongue, who had already taken a first-innings five-for, added 3-43 in the second, including the key dismissal of Shan Masood for 29 after lunch.
Ollie Robinson, whose 3-29 in the first innings formed part of an eight-wicket match haul shared with Tongue, chipped in again as Pakistan’s inexperienced batting line-up unravelled under sustained pressure.
Root’s fielding plans paid off repeatedly. Azan Awais, who had avoided a pair after being lbw to Robinson first ball of the match, clipped Archer straight to leg slip for nine. Saud Shakeel, attempting to work Tongue fine, picked out Dan Lawrence in an unorthodox backward square position. England’s bowlers stuck to tight lines, Pakistan’s batters offered loose strokes, and the contest never threatened to stretch into a fourth day.
England’s batting sets platform with controlled aggression
England’s run-rate of 4.55 owed more to Pakistan’s wayward bowling and sloppy fielding than any Bazball-style surge, but the innings was still marked by clarity and restraint. Harry Brook’s 93-ball 91 was the standout, a measured innings that balanced fluency with discipline. Root, Lawrence and Jordan Cox all contributed half-centuries, while Jamie Smith’s 25 was one of the few quieter notes.
Smith fell early on the third morning, spooning a short ball from Khurram Shahzad to midwicket after England resumed on 366-8 with a lead of 195. Around his dismissal, Archer (23 not out) and Tongue (8) struck crisp boundaries, with Archer launching the game’s only six over the leg side off Khurram. England’s lower order added useful runs before Pakistan’s second collapse began.
Pakistan crumble again under England’s pressure
Archer immediately targeted Pakistan’s openers, forcing Imam-ul-Haq into a swaying glove through to Smith and then removing Azan with a delivery that climbed sharply. Abdullah Shafique and Masood steadied briefly, but Robinson’s probing line drew a limp prod from Shafique, Brook taking the catch at second slip shortly before lunch.
After the interval, Tongue ripped through the middle order. Saud Shakeel fell to a ball that straightened, Masood edged to slip, and stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha. Deputising for the injured Babar Azam, was pinned lbw by a nip-backer in the same over. Pakistan’s resistance never materialised.
Ali Usman, whose five-wicket haul in England’s innings was one of Pakistan’s few bright moments, became Tongue’s next victim, Cox diving at slip after the ball ballooned off Smith’s thigh. Pakistan’s decision-making deteriorated further when Mohammad Rizwan, top-scorer with 41, exposed tailender Khurram Shahzad one ball into an over; Khurram nicked off to Robinson immediately.
Gus Atkinson, tidy throughout, cleaned up Rizwan with a delivery the batter swiped across the line. Archer then ended the match when Mohammad Abbas ballooned a catch to Lawrence. England’s bowlers shared the wickets, their discipline rewarded by Pakistan’s repeated errors.
Root’s second era begins with clarity and control
Root’s return as captain brought immediate dividends. His willingness to use funky fields, his calm handling of bowlers and his trust in attacking positions all contributed to a win that never felt in doubt once England established their first-innings lead. Bigger challenges lie ahead for England. Pakistan’s lack of quality and x-factor may limit the competitiveness of the series but Root’s start was encouraging.
England’s next tests will come in South Africa over the winter, Stephen Fleming’s first series as permanent head coach, and then in next summer’s Ashes. For now, though, Root’s side have a chance to secure their first series victory since beating New Zealand 2-1 in December 2024. Their only other win since then was a one-off thrashing of Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last summer, with a 2-2 draw against India, a 4-1 defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home loss to New Zealand forming a difficult run.
England series context and what comes next
England now lead the three-match series 1-0. The second Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday, with an 11am first ball. Victory there would seal the series before the finale at Edgbaston in September. England’s bowlers look sharp, their batting appears balanced, and Root’s leadership has added clarity after a period of inconsistency.
Pakistan, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their batting collapses across both innings, their fielding lapses and their tactical missteps left them exposed throughout the three days in Leeds. With Babar Azam still sidelined by a hand injury, Salman Ali Agha faces a significant challenge to lift a side that looked short of confidence and cohesion.
England’s innings win at Headingley was built on discipline rather than drama. Accurate bowling, smart fields, controlled batting and a captain who set the tone. Root’s second era has begun with authority, and England head to Lord’s with momentum firmly in their favour.
Featured Image courtesy of Crick Info
By Faz Ali
