England v Pakistan 1st Test at Headingley
Neil whitaker reports
Day 1August 19, 2026 10:59 pm
OLLIE Robinson got his second five wicket haul of the season in his second Test match of the summer and his fifth in total while Josh Tongue took his first Test five wicket haul of the summer as Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in less than 49 overs.
At 97 for two in the 30th over there was no hint of the carnage that was to come when Pakistan lost seven wickets for 54 runs in 13 overs. Abdulla Shafiq top scored for Pakistan with 61 and Inman-Ul-Haq made 42.
On an overcast morning England, with four seamers won the toss, put Pakistan in and Robinson struck with the first ball of the series. It was the first time in 19 years and the first time in England that a wicket has fallen to the first ball of a Test. Robinson hit Azan Awais on the pads and was given out. Azan Awais reviewed it and the replay showed it was hitting the leg stump.
In his third over Robinson got his second wicket when he brought a full ball back in at Shan Masood and got his second leg before. Balls earlier Inman-ul-Haq was hit on his pads by Robinson, this time he was given not out but England reviewed it. Umpire Chris Gaffaney got his second decision right. So following the previous correct decisions by Gaffaney, Shan Masood decided not to review it.
England lost their second review when they thought Abdulla Shafiq had got an inside edge to Jamie Smith but was given not out this time by umpire Allahuien Paleker and again the umpire got it right. And that was the last action of the morning as rain drove the players off the field for 70 minutes.
Robinson had to wait until his 14th over for his next wicket when Saud Shakeel was given out by umpire Gaffaney but Saud Shakeel waited too long to review it. This time the television replay showed that Gaffaney got the decision wrong because the ball was going over.
Abdulla Shafiq said: “I was confident that the ball was missing and told him to review it but he was too late and he was frustrated when he saw that he should have reviewed it.”
Abdulla Shafiq was bowled by Robinson who got one to nip back through his gate hitting the top of middle. Early in his innings he drove Robinson to the cover boundary for the shot of his innings. He effortlessly drove Joffra Archer to the long-on boundary not only to bring up the fifty partnership with Inman-Ul-Haq in 14 overs but also the first runs off Archer who was taken out of the attack after bowling two maiden overs in the morning.
Robinson said: “It was nice to get a wicket with the first ball, it settled my nerves. It was frustrating not to get picked at the Kia Oval and I was ready to play at Trent Bridge but I wasn’t selected. I think I have learnt a lot about myself during the time I wasn’t in the team. The more I play the better I get, I always want to play for England. Hopefully I can now cement my place in the team.
Under Joe Root it’s about fine tuning what we did under Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum. It’s really an exciting time in English cricket.”
After getting into an awful tangle against Tongue, Abdulla Shafiq tickled him to the fine leg boundary and drove him to the long-on boundary to take him into the 40’s. When Tongue switched to the Kirkstall lane end Abdulla Shafiq drove him beautifully to the long-on boundary. Later in the over he pinched a single when he nearly played on but was called through for the single by Inman-Ul-Haq.
He reached his 50, which came from 82 balls and included seven fours from a thick edge through point off Robinson.
Robinson got his fifth wicket when Khurram Shehzad, who survived Togue’s hattrick ball by crunching it to the cover boundary, swung his bat at every ball sometimes he connected. One of the connections flat batted Robinson to Gus Atkinson who ran round from mid-on to take the catch.
Inman-Ul-Haq late cut Archer to the third man boundary. On 40 he pushed Robinson into the off-side, set off for a single then pulled up and received treatment. After making another two he pushed at a wide delivery from Tongue and edged him to Harry Brook at second slip who took a good low catch moving to his left. The partnership with Abdulla Shafiq was worth 91 in 23 overs, the highest third wicket partnership against England when the opposition have lost their first two wickets for less than 10.
Pakistan could have lost another wicket on 118 when Mohammad Rizwan got off the mark by sweep/scouping Robinson for a couple, the ball could have gone anywhere as the ball flew over the slips.
Acting captain Agha Salman was bowled by Tongue who got one to nip back at him. Agha Salman tried to drive a ball that wasn’t there to be driven. Tongue got on a hat trick when Ali Usman tried to work him to leg but missed the ball and was given out leg before. Ali Usman reviewed it but lost the review.
Despite missing out on the hattrick Tongue was soon back among the wickets when he angled one in at Mohammed Rizwan and thundered into his pads. Mohammed Rizwan was given out but he decided to review it, the replay showed it to umpires call and Mohammed Rizwan was on his way back to the hutch.
Mohammed Abbas backed away from his first ball and Tongue missed his pads and stumps but Tongue had his revenge when he yorked Mohammed Abbas.
Abdulla Shafiq added: “The conditions this morning were challenging. We will try our best in the coming days. England played some good cricket but we hope the conditions in the morning will be tricky and the wickets of Root and Harry Brook will be crucial.”
Pakistan thought they had Ben Duckett leg before to Mohammed Abbas in the first over but was given not out so Pakistan reviewed it and the replay showed it to be umpires call. Duckett didn’t have such luck when he was given out leg before to Mohammed Abbas eight overs later when he seamed one away from Duckett. Duckett reviewed it and the replay showed it to be hitting.
Emilio Gay who looked good in his innings hit two consecutive fours off Mohammed Abbas: the first to the square leg boundary and the second to the cover boundary was the best shot of his innings. He looked confident but he wasn’t confident enough to advise Duckett not to review his leg before decision. Gay got turned around by Mohammed Ali who found his edge and the ball carried to Agha Salman at second slip. Mohammed Ali squared up Jordan Cox took his edge but this time the ball sped past third slip.
Robinson returned to the side after he missed the second and third Tests against New Zealand and joined Archer, Atkinson and Tongue with Dan Lawrence as the spinner. For Pakistan captain Babar Azam hadn’t recovered from his hand injury, Agha Salman captained the side and like England they are playing one spinner.
Day 2
PLAY didn’t get underway until 2.45 on the second day with 32 overs lost because of persistent morning rain those that turned up got their monies with 252 runs and six wickets falling.
They also saw Jordan Cox hit his first Test fiftty, batting at number three for the first time in his second Test match and the third time in his first class career. He glanced Mohammad Abbas off his legs to the fine leg boundary to bring up his fifty. In the next over he drilled Mohammad Ali to the long-on boundary as England drew level with Pakistan’s first innings.
Cox raced to 41 thanks to an over from Khurram Shahzad when he hit four boundaries. First Cox clipped him off his legs to the fine leg boundary, a couple of balls later Cox drilled him to the point boundary. Then Khurram Shahzad got one to rise at him taking the shoulder of his bat on its way to the third man boundary followed by Cox drilling him to the long-off boundary.
He punched Mohammad Abbas to the extra cover boundary to bring up the hundred partnership with Joe Root from 158 balls.
On 57 Cox flat batted a chest high return chance to Khurram Shahzad who put the chance down despite getting both hands to it. Later in the over Cox pulled him to the mid-wicket boundary by now Pakistan were out on their feet and looked devoid of ideas.
He said: “At the start of the day I would have taken 73, but I feel as if I have let myself down and also I left a few runs out there. I try and bang the door down to play for England but what will be will be. Marcus Trescothick has been really good to us and told us to bat in our way. Hopefully the boys will get another 50 runs in the morning and then our bowlers will get their work done.”
Things looked worse for Pakistan when Root worked Mohammad Ali through square leg and should have got three but a misfield on the boundary edge allowed the ball to go to the boundary to bring up another Root fifty.This one came from 51 balls with eight fours but Root was starting to go through his gears.
After bringing up the 150 partnership Cox got a thick edge to Ali Usman and was caught behind by stumper Mohammad Rizwan. Umpire Chris Gaffaney gave him out without hesitation, but reviewed it straight away. Once again Gaffaney made the right decision.
Cox added: “I thought I had hit my pad. On my way back to the dressing room I was thinking there was a chance of getting an hundred. But every player wants to score Test hundreds.”
Four balls later Root was joining Cox back in the hutch when he was leg before to Khurram Shahzad. Root reviewed it and again made the wrong decision and England had lost all their reviews.
It could have been worse for England when Harry Brook on one edged Khurram Shahzad but captain Agha Salman at first slip put the chance down. Apart from that it was a sedate knock from Brook but suddenly out of nowhere he moved into the 40’s. Mohammad Ali bowled him a rank long-hop which he easily pulled to the square leg boundary. He late cut Ali Usman for a single to bring up his 19th Test fifty, this one came from 55 balls with eight fours.
For the second time in 12 months Brook was out in the 90’s on his home ground. He tried to work Ali Usman to leg and the ball crashed into his middle stump. His 91 came from 93 balls with 13 fours.
Dan Lawrence hit his fifth Test 50 from 75 balls with nine fours. Early in his innings he top edged a sweep off Ali Usman, who was making the ball talk with spin and bounce, just out of the reach of the fielder at backward square leg. He caressed Mohammad Ali to the square leg boundary. On 26 Lawrence swept Ali Usman and was hit on his pads and Pakistan reviewed it and lost it. But if they had waited they would have seen that when the ball dropped it hit the back of Lawrence’s bat and if one of the close fielders had gone for the catch instead of pushing the case for a review.
He swept Ali Usman to the square leg boundary to take England’s lead to 100. He slog/swept Ali Usman to the mid-wicket boundary. Time and time again poor fielding returned to let them down. They were slow to reach the ball and when they did they got their feet in a tangle and kicked the ball over the boundary. Lawrence charged Ali Usman, was hit on his pads and while they were reviewing it the ball flew to Agha Salman at slip who threw the ball at the stumps but hit Mohammad Rizwan. The review was lost so it was bad cricket all round.
Lawrence gloved a bouncer from Mohammad Ali over Mohammad Rizwan’s head to the boundary to bring up England’s 300 and the hundred partnership with Brook. He thrashed Mohammad Ali to the cover boundary. His luck ran out when he top edged a sweep off Ali Usman and Mohammad Rizwan ran from behind the stumps to nearly meet the square leg umpire and dived forward to take the catch. With Brook they added 120 in 15 overs.
Gus Atkinson pushed forward to Ali Usman who slide one into him and trapped him leg before. He got his first five wicket haul in a Test and on a hattrick when he turned one past Olivier Robinson and hit his off stump.
Ali Usman said: “England have the upper hand at the moment but we will try to score as many runs as possible in the second innings.”
Day 3
JOE Root’s new reign as England captain got off to a winning start as England beat Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs with over two days and session to spare at Headingley.
He said: “It feels good. It was a brilliant performance, from the first ball after winning the toss and exploiting the conditions we were outstanding. We got ahead of the game and drove it forward. Once we got ahead of the game we managed it brilliantly. To get 400 runs on that surface was outstanding.
I don’t think that our bowling group know how good they are. They worked well together. It was great to see them start the series like that. I thought Ollie Robinson’s performance was brilliant, he consistently asked awkward questions and I am pleased for the lads that came in.
Root who fielded at mid-off instead of first slip said: “I enjoyed being close to the bowlers, being able to communicate with them and being on the same page as them was important.
I thought we batted well on that surface, to get 400 despite nobody getting that big score.”
It took England 37.3 overs to dismiss Pakistan with Robinson, Josh Tongue and Joffra Archer taking three wickets each. Trailing by 238 runs Pakistan lost their first wicket in the second over without a run on the board when Inman-ul-Haq swayed back to get out of the way of a short ball from Archer but couldn’t get his gloves out of the way.
Bowling around the wicket Archer got his second wicket when Azan Awais glanced him off his legs to Root at leg slip. Root added: “When a plan like that works it’s brilliant.”
Pakistan needed Shan Masood and Abdulla Shafiq to bat till tea if not till the close of play but they didn’t even make it to lunch. Robinson got his first wicket of the day five overs before lunch when, after adding 38 for the second wicket, Abdulla Shafiq edged a full ball to Harry Brook at second slip.
Saud Shakeel drilled Tongue straight along the ground to the long-off boundary and three balls clipped Tongue off his legs to Dan Lawrence at short fine-leg diving to his right.
Shan Masood went hard at a ball just outside the off stump from Tongue and Ben Duckett at first slip safely took the catch. And for the second time in the match Tongue was on a hattrick and for the second time he failed to get a hattrick.
Four balls later Tongue got his third wicket for seven runs in three balls when he got Pakistan captain Agha Salman leg before. Salman reviewed it but the replay showed it to be clipping the bail.
Mohammad Rizwan’s innings was a puzzling one as he top scored 41 and was the ninth out. He played some good shots: punching Tongue twice down the ground straight to the long-off boundary, pulling him to the square leg boundary and some bizarre decisions: he took a single off the first ball of Robinson’s sixth over, leaving Kurran Shehzad to face five balls, he edged the first ball and Jordan Cox at third slip took a great catch in his left hand. Rizwan raced like mad to complete a single leaving Mohammad Abbas to face the rest of the over. He was ninth out having a wild swing at Gus Atkinson and lost his off stump.
After some adjustments in the field with Lawrence going to silly mid-on and Root moving to first slip Robinson got his second wicket. Ali Usman got a thick outside edge which deflected off Jamie Smith’s knee and Jordan Cox dived forward at third slip to take the catch.
Three balls after Rizwan’s dismissal the match was over, Mohammad Abbas had big heave at Archer, toe ended the ball over the slips and Lawrence ran towards short third man to take the catch.
Agha Salman said: “We are rebuilding the team and our bowling attack is a very inexperienced one. We have bowlers who can bowl at 140km but not consistently. When you are struggling the body language can go down but that’s not an excuse, it always has to be up but when you are bowling against a team with big partnerships you can say the body language is down but it's not. In our second innings we were not batting to save the Test but to win it, sometimes it works.
I am more than happy to give the captaincy back to Babar Azem if he’s because one of the best batsmen in the world.”
England batted on for another 36 minutes adding 43 runs. Pakistan took the new ball in the third over of the morning and Archer pulled the 11th ball with it into the Western terrace for the first six of the match. He tried to glance Khurram Shahzad to the fine leg boundary but got a leading edge but luckily he got a four to the third man boundary.
Jamie Smith pulled Khurram Shahzad but hit it with his outside edge and the ball went up the ladder to Shan Masood at mid-on.
Tongue got off the mark with a lofted straight drive boundary off Mohammad Abbas and brought up England’s 400. In the next over he drove Khurram Shahzad straight along the ground for another boundary. But the bowler got his man with his next ball which came in at Tongue and kissed the top of his leg stump.