England vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 - CommentaryENG vs PAK, 1st Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 - Commentary

There’s one thing you should not forget to do if you are a true cricket fanatic - just go back and read the entire comms of this game; truly outstanding work done by my esteemed colleague, Raju Peethala who put on a masterclass in how to keep the viewers hooked when there are long rain delays. Fascinating interviews of Root, Trescothick and Brook so wonderfully brought to your reading screens which made the breaks seem like a breeze. The bar now has been pushed higher! Can Pakistan raise theirs when the action moves to Lord’s next Thursday, or will England find another gear and push the bar even higher? All of that for next week. Until then, it’s goodbye from the trio of Kumar Abhisekh Das, Harish and Praveen Kumar.

Not the best of news for English fans, with England not scheduled to play another men’s Test at Headingley until 2029. Given their recent remarkable record here, they would surely have loved a few more opportunities at their favourite fortress, perhaps none more so than an Ashes Test next year. But those decisions are for the hierarchy to make, and as Stuart Broad noted yesterday, players are merely pawns in this mighty game. For now, though, England can simply savour (with a sensible beer maybe - as Joe Root mentioned last week) a commanding victory and the perfect response to all the noise and turbulence that followed their 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand in June.

Root 2/2: (On England's batting approach compared to the previous regime) 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 skilful 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 team combination and bowling attack for Lord's) Obviously it's the big question, isn't it? Post Ben Stokes, how do you get the right bowling attack and the amount of batters that you want in the 11? 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 balancing captaincy with his own batting) Yeah, always. Look, playing for England, look, 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.

Joe Root | England skipper: (On returning as England captain with a convincing win at Headingley) 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 strength and variety of England's bowling attack) 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 and attack with that kind of variety, different things to call upon at different times within the game, and as well 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, rookie, 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.

Salman Agha 2/2: (On the batting plans after Pakistan's first-innings struggles) I think we need to, when it comes to England, you have to be consistent enough. You need to make sure you play late and you be ready on every single ball because it's such a challenging place when you come from Asian conditions. But yeah, we are good enough batters and I think we need not replicate the mistakes we have done and we need to come back stronger. (On Ali Usman's five-wicket haul and the positives from the Test) Yeah, obviously the way he bowled, I think it's outstanding on a pitch where obviously it turns a bit, but he was consistent enough and I am happy for him and hopefully he can continue. And the way Abdullah batted, I think it's outstanding as well in first innings. He's been batting well since his comeback, so hopefully he can continue as well. (On possible changes for the second Test and Babar Azam's return) Well, we will sit down, we'll go to London and sit down and hopefully Babar comes back and that will be a big boost for us.

Salman Ali Agha | Pakistan skipper: (Reflecting on a disappointing defeat after taking over as captain at short notice) Yeah, England has outplayed us, it's fair to say that. We have made so many mistakes and we were not consistent in our batting and bowling the way England were, and I think that was missing. (On whether the conditions were particularly difficult for Pakistan's batters) Yeah, you can say that both. It was inexperience when it came to batting, but it was, I think, when we went to bowl, there was enough lateral movement. So I don't think so it was much different, but, we were not consistent enough. (On whether Pakistan can strengthen the bowling attack for the next Test) Yeah, we do have bowlers who can hit 140. You can say that, but these are three bowlers, they have done well in West Indies and they are the bowlers who are suited on these conditions. It's just like they had an off days and they were not consistent enough, but I still believe in them. I think they are good enough bowlers who can bowl team out here.

Robinson 2/2:(On his fitness, pace and ability to return for spells later in the game) It's really good. Had a hard six weeks before this, played a few one-day games, but I was working with the ECB medical team on just getting as fit as I possibly could in those six weeks, and I felt like today, coming back again for another spell at the end, up the hill, that I maintained my speed, maintained my skill, and I suppose that's what I'm looking to do, really, and that's all I can do. I know there's still a lot of work to do, and I'm not quite there yet, but yeah, it's a pleasing sign and a good start. (On whether he changed his approach between the first and second innings) Yeah, a little bit more swing second innings. I felt that the pitch just got a little bit slower and it wasn't quite nipping as fast. So, I went a little bit more upright with the seam and tried to swing a few. But just, like I said, being as consistent as possible, and I knew that I was in the game. (On his hopes of playing the next Test at Lord's) I hope so. Go back to the newborn now and try and get as much sleep as I can before the next Test.

Ollie Robinson | Player of the Match: (Reflecting on taking a wicket with his first ball of the Test match) No, it's a great way to start. That's my job, I suppose, to take the new ball and to get a wicket first ball. It's a great feeling. (On his line and length throughout the match and how he found his rhythm) Yeah, actually, I said yesterday I didn't feel in great rhythm. I think it took me a little bit of time to get used to. But I was just trying to focus on being ultra-consistent, hitting the line and length, and kind of letting 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, and I knew that as long as I could control my length and my line, that I was in the game.

That doesn’t mean he was a passive captain. Root was clearly involved in planning for specific batters, with the dismissal of Azan Awais in the second innings a good example of that. When it came to reviews, he largely trusted the instinct of his bowlers, while also taking on the familiar job of keeping the ball polished with plenty of diligence. His influence with the bat was equally noticeable. He looked fluent, encouraged Jordan Cox to play with freedom and was perfectly happy to play the supporting role when required. The Yorkshire man also made a conscious effort to keep Harry Brook involved, particularly when adjusting fielding positions. In many ways, that summed up his approach - less animated than Stokes, but calm, trusting and quietly involved when required. For him, this was a captaincy style that seemed to suit him perfectly, and the result was an emphatic homecoming for Root 2.0.

So, how different was Joe Root’s captaincy from Ben Stokes’? The first thing that stood out was the contrast in personality. Root is certainly less expressive than Stokes, and that was reflected in the way he went about his business. One noticeable change was his position in the field: rather than spending time in the slip cordon, Root was more often stationed at mid-off or mid-on, giving his bowlers the freedom to stick to their plans. There weren’t as many frequent conversations as we’re used to seeing from Stokes, but Root was quick to have a quiet word whenever he felt it was needed.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

This is Joe Root’s first Test win as captain in 11 Tests. His last win as captain came at Headingley, Leeds, almost exactly five years ago, in 2021 (vs India) - also with Ollie Robinson as Player of the Match, after his 7/81 match haul.

Pakistan have gone 17 Tests without a win in SENA countries since their last victory there in 2018.

This is England’s seventh successive Test win at Headingley. Their last defeat in Leeds came against the West Indies in the 2017 summer.

Fewest balls played by PAK in a Test (for 20 wickets)
419 vs ENG, Lord’s, 2010
460 vs NZ, Hamilton, 2001
498 vs ENG, Nottingham, 2010
514 vs ENG, Leeds, 2026*
546 vs WI, Multan, 2025

306 runs match aggregate is Pakistan’s sixth-lowest in a Test in England.

Lowest totals for PAK in England since 2000
72 at Birmingham, 2010
74 at Lord’s, 2010
80 at Nottingham, 2010
119 at Manchester, 2006
134 at Leeds, 2018
135 at Leeds, 2026*

This is only the second time England pacers have taken all 20 wickets against Pakistan in a Test match, after at Lord’s in 2001.

Biggest innings win margin for ENG vs PAK
Inns & 225 runs, Lord’s, 2010
Inns & 129 runs, Nottingham, 1954
Inns & 120 runs, Manchester, 2006
Inns & 120 runs, Lord’s, 1978
Inns & 117 runs, Leeds, 1962
Inns & 103 runs, Leeds, 2026*

Successive innings defeat for Pakistan at Leeds, after their 2018 loss by an innings and 55 runs.

It didn’t get much better with the ball. Pakistan put down chances and struggled to make an impact for large periods on Day 2, allowing England to build a huge first-innings advantage. Against a side that has made Headingley such a happy hunting ground, those missed opportunities were always going to hurt. England were clinical, and once they got ahead, they never really allowed the visitors a way back into the contest. Joe Root had spoken before the game about the variety and depth of England’s pace attack, and how excited he was by the different skill sets at his disposal. His bowlers have certainly lived up to that billing. Archer, Atkinson, Robinson and Tongue kept the stumps in play, hit the right lengths consistently and adapted their plans superbly throughout the game. Between them, they kept Pakistan under constant pressure and ensured England remained in complete control.

Pakistan arrived needing a bit of luck, and perhaps even more so after Babar Azam was ruled out with injury. But luck tends to favour those who make the most of the little moments, and Pakistan failed to do that throughout this Test. They lost the toss, then let several key opportunities slip through their fingers. There was a brief period on the opening morning when Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique’s 91-run stand gave them some control, but one of them needed to turn that start into a substantial score. Instead, Imam’s ambitious drive against Josh Tongue opened the floodgates, and Pakistan collapsed from 117 for 3 to 171 all out.

15:41 local, 14:41 GMT, 20:11 IST: Since July 2023, Pakistan had won only two Test matches overseas, and if there was one venue in England where they would have least wanted to try and improve that record, Headingley would have been right up there. It has been an imposing fortress for England over the past decade, and this victory makes it eight wins in their last nine Tests here. Four of those have come by an innings, interestingly all against Asian opposition - twice against Pakistan, once against India and once against Sri Lanka.

Jofra Archer to Abbas, THATS OUT!! Caught!!