So many changes, same old Pakistan as England took control at Edgbaston on day 1

Pakistan’s problems deepened on the opening day of the Edgbaston Test as they struggled to keep England in check after another dramatic batting collapse. With their confidence already shaken, Pakistan did a big shock squad after their loss at Lord’s. For the Edgbaston game, sweeping changes to their XI, giving away three Test debuts and bringing Saim Ayub back into the side. Captain Babar Azam urged his team to approach the match with a “nothing to lose” mindset, but their batting failed again.

ENG VS PAK 3RD TEST DAY 1: MAIN | SCORECARD

Pakistan were bowled out in 34 overs and lost all 10 wickets in about one and a half sessions. Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue did most of the damage as England’s seamen took advantage of the conditions.

Robinson was particularly miserly, while also reaching 100 Test wickets faster than any post-war England bowler. Pakistan’s opening partnership again failed to provide a platform and ended in single figures for the fifth time in the series. Archer then added to the damage by dismissing Shan Masood, leaving Pakistan reeling at 26/4.

Language continued the attack by removing Babarclipping the top of the stumps and further exposing Pakistan’s fragile top order. Their first five batsmen managed just 24 runs combined, their second lowest total in a Test innings since 2000.

Saud Shakeel tried to hold the innings together but support at the other end was scarce. Language struck again to remove debutant Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran before finally breaking through Shakeel’s defense after the left-hander struggled into the 40s.

The Pakistani tail offered some resistance. Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali took the wicket on 55 balls between them, with Ali continuing despite being hit on the right leg. Abbas passed 20 for only the third time in his Test career, but the innings was eventually finished 34 overs short, making it Pakistan’s third shortest Test innings against England.

England began their reply cautiously, aware that the ball was moving violently. Babar took a good catch at slip to remove Ben Duckett in the fifth over before Abbas trapped Jordan Cox lbw to reduce the hosts to 24/2.

Joe Root’s record day came with an unwanted twist. The England great moved past Steve Waugh to become Test cricket’s third-highest wicket-taker, but his lbw struggles continued. Debutant Razaullah trapped him in front, the eighth time in his last 10 Test innings this summer that Root has been dismissed in this way.

Emilio Gay gave England the stability they needed. He stayed patient and punished everything that came loose, though one shot resulted in a painful inside edge that hit his back knee and briefly left him on the floor. Despite the knock, he carried on and continued to build his innings as Pakistan’s seamers occasionally found movement off the pitch.

Harry Brook proved to be an ideal partner for Gaye. The pair survived periods of pressure, with Pakistan’s bowlers repeatedly probing the outside edge and occasionally keeping Brook pinned to the crease when the keeper got up.

Their partnership eventually crossed three figures, giving England their first 100-plus fourth wicket at home against Pakistan in 20 years.

Gay was unable to remain unbeaten in the final, but his contribution still made him the first player from either team to score a half-century in the series. Brook followed him to fifty alongside Dan Lawrence and left England firmly in control at the end of the first day.

– The end

Published on:

10 Sep 2026 0:38 IST