England skittle Pakistan at Headingley on Root's return as Test captain

England skittle Pakistan for 171 on Joe Root's return as Test captain with Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue taking five-wicket hauls at Headingley Joe Root, back as England skipper after Ben Stokes' retirement, sees side dismiss Pakistan in 48.1 overs after electing to bowl; Ollie Robinson strikes from first ball of Test, with Azan Awais (0) lbw; England close on 112-2, trail by 59; watch day from 10.15am Thursday on Sky Sports Wednesday 19 August 2026 19:45, UK Joe Root's second spell as England Test captain began with his side skittling Pakistan for 171 at Headingley as Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each bagged five-wicket hauls around a lengthy rain delay and a brief fightback from the tourists. Root is back in charge following Ben Stokes' shock international retirement in June and charged with turning around the team's fortunes after seven defeats and just one win in their last 10 games, across fixtures against India, Australia and New Zealand. Bar wet weather preventing any play between from 11.50pm-1.45pm, and Abdullah Shafique (61) and Imam-ul-Haq (42) putting on a stand of 91 from 6-2, this was an excellent day for Root, with Pakistan rolled in 48.1 overs before the hosts closed on 112-2 in reply, trailing by 59. - Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream England vs Pakistan no contract - Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, first Test, Headingley - England vs Pakistan - as it happened on day one in Leeds England lost Ben Duckett (15) lbw and Emilio Gay (33) caught at slip, to Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali respectively, leaving Jordan Cox (23no) - into the side at No 3 in place of the injured Jacob Bethell - and Root (37no) to usher the side to the 7.30pm stumps with an unbroken stand of 64. The day had been extended after the earlier rain, which could return in droves on day two. Root - whose first stint in charge from 2017-2022 preceded the fabulously entertaining but ultimately flawed Bazball era - had no hesitation in bowling after winning the toss under leaden skies on his home ground and that decision reaped immediate rewards. Robinson (5-51) inflicted a platinum duck on Azan Awais, trapping the opener lbw from around the wicket as a wicket fell to the first ball of a Test match in England for the first time in 19 years, and then pinned Shan Masood (5) leg before from over the wicket. Pakistan battled to 23-2 from 9.4 overs before the rain arrived, during which time England burned two reviews looking for further breakthroughs, and then progressed to 97-3 once play resumed, only for Tongue (5-46) nicking off Imam to trigger a collapse. The away side lost their final eight wickets for 74 and last five for 21, with the clatter including Robinson bowling Shafique with a beauty that jagged in prodigiously and the same bowler pinning Saud Shakeel (5) lbw after the batter took two long to request a review that would have saved him - the ball was set to soar over leg stump. More to follow... Watch day two of the first Test between England and Pakistan, at Headingley, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Thursday (11am first ball, weather-permitting). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW England vs Pakistan Test series schedule All games live on Sky Sports; all 11am starts UK and Ireland - First Test (Headingley) - August 19-23 - Second Test (Lord's) - August 27-31 - Third Test (Edgbaston) - September 9-13 [Image text:] iG JS DSTORE TOYOTA SE 707 Vr