England Demolish Pakistan by an Innings and 103 Runs as Joe Root’s Captaincy Return Couldn’t Have Gone Any Better

Three years after handing over the England captaincy, Joe Root picked it back up and, within three days, had already delivered the kind of statement win most captains dream of on debut. England swept Pakistan aside by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley, wrapping up the match with two full days to spare and firmly announcing what life after “Bazball” looks like — built, for now at least, around a relentless, four-pronged seam attack rather than the free-scoring aggression of the Stokes era.

A Ruthless Three Days

Root won the toss and chose to bowl first, and the decision paid off almost instantly. Ollie Robinson removed Azan Awais with the very first ball of the match, and Pakistan never really recovered from there, eventually being bowled out for 171. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq did offer some resistance with a 91-run stand for the third wicket, but the tail folded quickly against Robinson and Josh Tongue, who shared eight wickets between them across the match.

England’s reply was equally emphatic. They posted 409, built around contributions right through the order — Harry Brook’s 91, Jamie Cox’s 73, a half-century from Root himself on his return to the captaincy, and 51 from Dan Lawrence — to take a commanding 238-run first-innings lead. From there, the result felt like a formality. Pakistan folded again in their second innings, this time for just 135 in 37.3 overs, with Jofra Archer striking twice early to reduce them to 13 for 2 before Tongue’s post-lunch burst effectively ended the contest.

Match Result Snapshot

• Pakistan: 171 (Abdullah Shafique 61, Imam-ul-Haq 42; Tongue 5/46, Robinson 5/51) and 135 (Mohammad Rizwan 41; Robinson 3/29, Tongue 3/43, Archer 3/50)
• England: 409 (Harry Brook 91, Jamie Cox 73, Joe Root 66, Dan Lawrence 51; Mohammad Usman 5/92)
• Result: England won by an innings and 103 runs
• Player of the Match: Ollie Robinson
• Series: England lead the three-match series 1-0

Root’s Second Act as Captain

There was always going to be extra scrutiny on how England looked under Root compared to the aggressive, high-tempo cricket that defined the Ben Stokes years. On this evidence, the template has shifted — this was a win built on old-fashioned seam bowling discipline rather than reckless strokeplay, with England’s attack finding the right lengths on a testing surface from the very first ball. Root himself sounded genuinely excited afterward about what his all-seam attack could achieve, and it’s easy to see why after a performance this complete.

It’s worth being measured about the context, though. Pakistan’s batting looked fragile throughout, their bowling lacked real venom, and their fielding was, by most accounts, well below the standard expected at this level. England’s dominant margin says as much about Pakistan’s shortcomings on this particular tour as it does about a fully-formed new England game plan — tougher tests of Root’s captaincy are still to come, most notably in South Africa over the winter and against Australia in next year’s Ashes.

A Rough Follow-Up for Pakistan

For Pakistan, this result comes as a real setback after their spirited draw in the West Indies just weeks earlier, where Abdullah Shafique’s historic 160 had powered them to a series-levelling win. That momentum simply didn’t travel to English conditions. Stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha, leading the side in the continued absence of the injured Babar Azam, was refreshingly honest afterward, admitting his side had been outplayed in every department. It’s now six straight defeats for Pakistan since Shan Masood’s tenure as captain began, adding further pressure heading into the remaining two Tests of this series.

What’s Next

England will look to wrap up the series when the two sides meet again at Lord’s, while Pakistan will need a significant response — both with the bat, which was their biggest problem at Headingley, and in the field, where their effort drew some pointed criticism. With Babar Azam’s fitness still uncertain, the tourists face a genuinely difficult task turning this series around.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the result of the England vs Pakistan 1st Test?

England won by an innings and 103 runs, wrapping up the match inside three days at Headingley, Leeds.

How did Pakistan perform with the bat?

Pakistan were bowled out for 171 in their first innings and collapsed to 135 in their second, with Abdullah Shafique’s 61 their top score of the match.

Who was named Player of the Match?

Ollie Robinson, who took a match haul of five wickets in the first innings and three more in the second.

Why is this Test significant for Joe Root?

It marked Root’s first Test as England’s full-time captain since he stepped down three years ago, and it came with a dominant, comprehensive win in his very first match back in charge.

Was Babar Azam available to play for Pakistan?

No. Babar remained sidelined through injury, with Salman Ali Agha leading the side as stand-in captain.

What is the series score after the first Test?

England lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second Test to follow at Lord’s.