Fab Four and Fleming on the phone – England’s first-Test takeaways
England began the Joe Root captaincy era with a comfortable innings victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley, offering early promise as the side rebuilds following Ben Stokes's retirement. The win, while emphatic, came against a struggling Pakistan side, meaning wider conclusions about England's progress should be treated with caution for now.
Seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were the standout performers, each taking eight wickets, while Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson improved after a rustier start following a spell in The Hundred; part-time spinner Dan Lawrence bowled just one over, underlining England's current lack of a frontline spin option ahead of a Bangladesh tour in February. With the bat, Jordan Cox impressed with 73 while standing in at number three for the injured Jacob Bethell, strengthening his case for a permanent Test place and posing selection questions, including the future of opener Emilio Gay, once Bethell returns.
- England beat Pakistan by an innings in the first Test at Headingley
- Robinson and Tongue took eight wickets each with the ball
- Jordan Cox's 73 boosts his case for a regular Test spot
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England's men's cricket team have started a new chapter under captain Joe Root, following the retirement of Ben Stokes, who had previously led the side. The first Test of this new era took place at Headingley against Pakistan, and ended in a strong win for England, though Pakistan's side is currently going through a difficult period, which makes it hard to draw firm conclusions from a single result.
Several players are worth knowing for context. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue are England bowlers who specialise in fast, seam-based bowling, and both took a large number of wickets in this match. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson are two more of England's seam bowlers, both returning to Test cricket after playing in The Hundred, a shorter, faster format of the game. Jordan Cox is a batter who filled in for Jacob Bethell, a regular member of the batting order who was unavailable through injury.
This match matters because England are rebuilding their team and working out who their best players are for the future, including whether they have a reliable spin bowler (one who relies on spinning the ball rather than pace) and who should bat in key positions. England are also due to tour Bangladesh in February, so decisions made now about team selection are likely to shape who travels and plays there.