England claim innings win over Pakistan at Headingley as Root begins second Test captaincy spell

England recorded an innings victory over Pakistan at Headingley on day three of the first Test, delivering a straightforward start to Joe Root's second spell as Test captain.

The dominant result at Leeds provided an encouraging beginning for Root's return, but the margin of victory arrived against a Pakistan side described in the report as having produced a desperate performance, so firm conclusions about progress were cautioned. The match ended a run in which England had managed only two wins in their previous 10 Tests, coming amid what the article called a desire to move on from the chaos of the past year.

England's bowling group, being rebuilt after the retirement of Ben Stokes, was a central theme of the game; the article notes Stokes has followed Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes and, most likely, Mark Wood out of the side, amounting to 1,871 Test wickets lost in less than three years. The initial post‑Stokes attack picked for Headingley featured four recognised seamers — Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson — with Dan Lawrence providing part‑time off‑breaks.

Conditions suited the seam attack: Robinson and Tongue each took eight wickets in the match, Archer and Atkinson were said to have improved after a rusty first innings linked to a month playing in The Hundred, and Lawrence bowled only one over. Root was quoted saying they "don't know how good they could be," reflecting the belief in the pace group’s potential.

The piece underlined a shortage of a consistently Test‑class spinner in England at present and listed Sam Cook and Brydon Carse as options waiting in the wings. It also flagged a trip to Bangladesh in February as one that will force England to find spin, while suggesting the side should prioritise seamers for the moment.

Jordan Cox, deputising for the injured Jacob Bethell at number three, made an assured 73 and was credited with patience and a sensible scoring rate against a Pakistan attack that lacked pace; the article notes Cox is 25 and could have up to four more innings in the series to press his claim. The report added that Bethell is now England's opener in one‑day cricket, Cox opened for Kent early in his first‑class career and can keep wicket, all factors that could increase selection competition for places such as Emilio Gay and Jamie Smith.

Jamie Smith's wicketkeeping was described as improved after work with new staff member Sarah Taylor and after recovering from a finger injury; a spell of three consecutive County Championship games for Surrey during Ben Foakes's injury also helped his development. The article stated Smith has shown greater range behind the stumps, standing up to the pace of Ollie Robinson and, in a previous match at Trent Bridge, to Jofra Archer, while noting his Test batting average has dipped below 40 and that he was dismissed for 25 on Friday morning following a prior dismissal to a Marnus Labuschagne bouncer in Sydney.

Stephen Fleming, England's new Test coach, has not yet taken charge in person: the article said he was appointed last month but will not be in the UK until September and will not take charge of a Test side until South Africa at Christmas. Fleming's recent role with Chennai Super Kings was referenced, noting CSK's last match was on 21 May, seven months before England's first Test against the Proteas, and Root revealed the New Zealander had been in daily contact during the Headingley Test, adding "It's been great to have him on the end of the phone."

Pakistan's campaign was weakened by the absence of captain Babar Azam, who was ruled out with a thumb injury, and the article described their batting as brittle, bowling as scattergun and fielding as shoddy. It recalled Pakistan's 1-1 away series draw with West Indies in Trinidad earlier this month — cited as their first Test win away from home in more than three years — and noted Pakistan's reliance on spinning pitches and their decision to use worn tracks on England's last visit to Pakistan in 2024; the visitors now head to Lord's, where the report observed that not one over of spin was bowled in England's shootout win over New Zealand in June, and concluded that the smart money is on another England victory to complete their first series win against anyone in almost two years.