2
0
0
1
0
0
= 3
Match Details
ENG vs PAK, 1st TEST, PAK vs ENG 2026 summary
PAK 171(48.1)
135-10(37.3)
England won by an innings and 103 runs 🏆
409(89.5)
ENG
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P'ship : 0(0)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
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Inn 1
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Milestone
For now, we will close our live coverage here. More action is coming your way in the form of CPL and Australia vs Bangladesh in the morning. Do join us then. So, it's me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Manan Mehta, scorer Zeeshan Naiyer and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!
Pakistan will be bolstered by their captain Babar Azam's return from a hand injury. They missed him a lot in the first Test, which ended within three days despite rain spoiling nearly two sessions.
The hosts go 1-0 up in the three-match series, with a cracking performance at Headingley, where they have won their last 7 Tests. It is a sort of fortress for England, as Pakistan's misery away from home continues. As far as the WTC is concerned, Pakistan slip to the bottom, while England, despite the win, stay in the seventh place.
What a Test match for England. What a return for Joe Root, the captain. 20 wickets to the seamers, 8 each for Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue, with five each coming in the first innings to set the game up for the batters, who feasted on the opportunity. Falling behind by 238 runs proved too much for Pakistan to recover from, and they were completely baffled.
Joe Root (England Captain): "[On starting his second run as captain with a big win] Brilliant performance. You look at the prep that we had leading in, coming straight in from the Hundred, the fact that we are sort of in this slight transition stage, but I thought the way that we dealt with all of that, the clarity and the way that the guys have approached this week has been outstanding. So, to put in a performance like that is really, really enjoyable, but very skillful as well. I thought the bowlers exposed those conditions brilliantly, found the right areas very early on in the Test match, and once we got ahead in the game, I thought we showed great maturity actually in how to manage the conditions, and a big reason why we're here now.
[On the pace attack's role in this Test] Hugely. I say, it's very exciting because I still think they don't really know how good they are yet, and what they're quite capable of, and I think that's a great place to be when you can put in performances like that. Attack with that kind of variety, different things to call upon at different times within the game, and also the fact that they bowl very well in partnerships at different times throughout as well. So, a lot of really good stuff in that department. I thought as well the way we played with the bat in very bowler-friendly conditions, Jordan Cox coming in at 3 and playing with such control, such a calm nature. I felt we found a really good tempo as well, managed different phases and stuff. So, Dan coming in at six and getting a score like he did, Brooky, showing why he's the best player in the world. Lots of really good stuff to take into Lord's and a great way to start the series.
[On the batting regime of this team] I think the fact that we played what was in front of us and we managed what we needed to, and when we had our opportunities to put pressure back on, we did it well. And the more that we can roll that out. It will look different every game, and I think it's being okay with that, understanding what that looks like, communicating that well as a group, and being skillful enough to deliver on that. So, really pleasing. As I said, we'll have different challenges, different things to contend with at Lord's, and we've got a good amount of time now to ready ourselves for that.
[On the bowling combination for Lord's] Let's see what we get when we get down there. And the beauty of that is we have time leading into that game. So, let's see where we're at. Let's enjoy what was a brilliant performance this week, and what a great way it was to start the series, and we'll ready ourselves for Lord's when we get down there.
[On his batting] Yeah, always. Love playing for England, love batting for England, that's never really going to waver. So, it was nice to get scores. Very disappointed with my dismissal, as you would be as a batter when you're set and you're in and you feel like you're in control of the game, and for us to put that on Dan and Harry, having already lost Jordan, was exactly what we don't want. So, it wasn't great example setting from me, but the way that they responded to that was almost even more pleasing for us as a group. So, feel good and looking forward to the rest of the series."
[On the pace attack's role in this Test] Hugely. I say, it's very exciting because I still think they don't really know how good they are yet, and what they're quite capable of, and I think that's a great place to be when you can put in performances like that. Attack with that kind of variety, different things to call upon at different times within the game, and also the fact that they bowl very well in partnerships at different times throughout as well. So, a lot of really good stuff in that department. I thought as well the way we played with the bat in very bowler-friendly conditions, Jordan Cox coming in at 3 and playing with such control, such a calm nature. I felt we found a really good tempo as well, managed different phases and stuff. So, Dan coming in at six and getting a score like he did, Brooky, showing why he's the best player in the world. Lots of really good stuff to take into Lord's and a great way to start the series.
[On the batting regime of this team] I think the fact that we played what was in front of us and we managed what we needed to, and when we had our opportunities to put pressure back on, we did it well. And the more that we can roll that out. It will look different every game, and I think it's being okay with that, understanding what that looks like, communicating that well as a group, and being skillful enough to deliver on that. So, really pleasing. As I said, we'll have different challenges, different things to contend with at Lord's, and we've got a good amount of time now to ready ourselves for that.
[On the bowling combination for Lord's] Let's see what we get when we get down there. And the beauty of that is we have time leading into that game. So, let's see where we're at. Let's enjoy what was a brilliant performance this week, and what a great way it was to start the series, and we'll ready ourselves for Lord's when we get down there.
[On his batting] Yeah, always. Love playing for England, love batting for England, that's never really going to waver. So, it was nice to get scores. Very disappointed with my dismissal, as you would be as a batter when you're set and you're in and you feel like you're in control of the game, and for us to put that on Dan and Harry, having already lost Jordan, was exactly what we don't want. So, it wasn't great example setting from me, but the way that they responded to that was almost even more pleasing for us as a group. So, feel good and looking forward to the rest of the series."
Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan Captain): "[On the Test match loss] England have outplayed us. It is fair to say that. We had made so many mistakes, and we were not consistent enough with bat and ball the way England were. I think that was missing.
[Getting bowled out for 171, was it inexperience or tricky conditions?] You can say both. There was inexperience when it came to batting. When we went to bowl there was enough lateral movement. So, I won't say it was a lot different. We were not consistent enough.
[On adding a quicker bowler in the next Test] Yeah, we do have bowlers who can click 140. However, these are 3 bowlers who have done well in West Indies, and they are the bowlers suited for these conditions. They just had off days and were not consistent enough. I still believe in them that they are good enough bowlers to bowl a team out here.
[On the batting failures] Yeah, I think when it comes to England you have to be consistent enough and play late. You have to be ready on every ball as it is a challenge when you have come from Asian conditions. We are a good batting side. We need to reflect on the mistakes we have done and need to come back stronger.
[On Ali Usman] Yeah, obviously. The way he bowled was outstanding. On a pitch where there was turn, he was consistent and I am happy for him and hopefully he can continue. Also, the way Abdullah batted is outstanding in the first innings. He has been batting well since his comeback. Hopefully, he can continue as well.
[Any big change in the team before Lord's?] Well, we will go to London and sit down. Hopefully Babar is back. That will be a big boost for us."
[Getting bowled out for 171, was it inexperience or tricky conditions?] You can say both. There was inexperience when it came to batting. When we went to bowl there was enough lateral movement. So, I won't say it was a lot different. We were not consistent enough.
[On adding a quicker bowler in the next Test] Yeah, we do have bowlers who can click 140. However, these are 3 bowlers who have done well in West Indies, and they are the bowlers suited for these conditions. They just had off days and were not consistent enough. I still believe in them that they are good enough bowlers to bowl a team out here.
[On the batting failures] Yeah, I think when it comes to England you have to be consistent enough and play late. You have to be ready on every ball as it is a challenge when you have come from Asian conditions. We are a good batting side. We need to reflect on the mistakes we have done and need to come back stronger.
[On Ali Usman] Yeah, obviously. The way he bowled was outstanding. On a pitch where there was turn, he was consistent and I am happy for him and hopefully he can continue. Also, the way Abdullah batted is outstanding in the first innings. He has been batting well since his comeback. Hopefully, he can continue as well.
[Any big change in the team before Lord's?] Well, we will go to London and sit down. Hopefully Babar is back. That will be a big boost for us."
Ollie Robinson (POTM): "[On his first ball wicket] That is a great way to start. That is my job I suppose. Setting the tone. To get a wicket on the first ball is a great feeling.
[On his bowling rhythm] I said this yesterday. I feel in great rhythm. The hill here did take me some time to get used to. I was just trying to focus on being ultra consistent. Hitting line and length. I was trying to let the wicket and the ball do the rest really. It felt like a nice wicket for me to bowl on. It was nipping both ways. As long as I controlled my line and length, I was in the game.
[On his preparation coming into the Test] Yeah, it is really good. I had a hard 6 weeks before this. Played a few one-day games but I was working with the ECB medical team on possibly getting as fit as I could in those 6 weeks. I felt like today, coming back for another spell down the hill, I maintained my speed, I maintained my skill and I suppose that is what I am looking to do and that is what I can do. I know there is still a lot of work to do. I am not quite there yet. A pleasing and good start though.
[On his plans in both innings] Yeah, little bit more swing in the second innings. I felt the pitch got slower and it wasn't nipping as fast. So, I got a little bit more up right with the seam and tried to swing a few. I just had to be as consistent as possible, and I knew I was in the game.
[Will he be fit for the second Test?] I hope so yeah. Go back to the newborn now and get as much sleep as I can before the next Test."
[On his bowling rhythm] I said this yesterday. I feel in great rhythm. The hill here did take me some time to get used to. I was just trying to focus on being ultra consistent. Hitting line and length. I was trying to let the wicket and the ball do the rest really. It felt like a nice wicket for me to bowl on. It was nipping both ways. As long as I controlled my line and length, I was in the game.
[On his preparation coming into the Test] Yeah, it is really good. I had a hard 6 weeks before this. Played a few one-day games but I was working with the ECB medical team on possibly getting as fit as I could in those 6 weeks. I felt like today, coming back for another spell down the hill, I maintained my speed, I maintained my skill and I suppose that is what I am looking to do and that is what I can do. I know there is still a lot of work to do. I am not quite there yet. A pleasing and good start though.
[On his plans in both innings] Yeah, little bit more swing in the second innings. I felt the pitch got slower and it wasn't nipping as fast. So, I got a little bit more up right with the seam and tried to swing a few. I just had to be as consistent as possible, and I knew I was in the game.
[Will he be fit for the second Test?] I hope so yeah. Go back to the newborn now and get as much sleep as I can before the next Test."
Player of the Match: Ollie Robinson
Time for the post-match presentations...
Fewest Balls Taken by a Bowler Between 7 Dismissals in Tests [Where ball-by-ball data is available]:
21 [From 1st Wicket to 7th] – Trent Boult [New Zealand] vs Sri Lanka, Christchurch, 2018
22 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Josh Tongue [England] vs Pakistan, Leeds, 2026, This Match*
27 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Yasir Shah [Pakistan] vs New Zealand, Dubai (DICS), 2018
29 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Mitchell Johnson [Australia] vs England, Adelaide, 2013
29 [From 1st Wicket to 7th] – Steve O’Keefe [Australia] vs India, Pune, 2017
21 [From 1st Wicket to 7th] – Trent Boult [New Zealand] vs Sri Lanka, Christchurch, 2018
22 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Josh Tongue [England] vs Pakistan, Leeds, 2026, This Match*
27 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Yasir Shah [Pakistan] vs New Zealand, Dubai (DICS), 2018
29 [From 2nd Wicket to 8th] – Mitchell Johnson [Australia] vs England, Adelaide, 2013
29 [From 1st Wicket to 7th] – Steve O’Keefe [Australia] vs India, Pune, 2017
Commentary