England’s Take a look at summer season enters a brand new section once they face Pakistan at Headingley, with the primary Take a look at marking the start of life after Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Stokes’ retirement brings an finish to an period that reworked England’s strategy to Take a look at cricket, whereas McCullum’s departure means a brand new teaching regime can be ready within the wings. Joe Root, in the meantime, begins his second stint as full-time captain, three years after stepping down from the position, with Marcus Trescothick taking interim cost till Stephen Fleming assumes the pinnacle coach’s position later this yr.
For all of the discuss of transition, England desperately want a sequence win. Their final success in a multi-Take a look at sequence got here towards New Zealand in November-December 2024, and their file since has been underwhelming. They drew 2-2 at house towards India final summer season, endured a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia after which misplaced 2-1 to New Zealand at house earlier this yr, a sequence that finally introduced Stokes’ Take a look at profession to an in depth.
Pakistan, in the meantime, arrive with a change of their very own on the prime. Babar Azam is again as Take a look at captain after Shan Masood’s tenure ended with 12 defeats in 16 Exams. Masood’s aspect suffered a sequence of heavy setbacks, together with whitewashes in Australia and South Africa and one other towards Bangladesh, earlier than Pakistan lastly halted an eight-match winless run in away Exams by beating West Indies within the second Take a look at of their current sequence.
However Babar will not be obtainable for the primary Take a look at, having sustained an harm to his proper hand through the three-day warm-up match towards Skilled County Membership Choose XI. Having retired harm after scoring 5 within the first innings, he didn’t participate within the the rest of the sport as a “precautionary measure”. Nevertheless, he hasn’t recovered in time for the second sport, with coach Sarfaraz Ahmed confirming that Salman Agha will lead the workforce at Leeds.
For England, Headingley presents a possibility to make the post-Stokes period start with an announcement. Root’s return to the captaincy shall be watched carefully, however his largest duty shall be to make sure England’s batting has sufficient substance round Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and himself. Pakistan, with a brand new captain, a number of new faces and their very own questions over personnel, will look to take advantage of any uncertainty. It is a Take a look at the place either side are trying to maneuver past tough current chapters, evidenced by their WTC standings with England at seventh and Pakistan eighth.
When: 1st Take a look at, August 19-23, 11:00 AM Native (3:30 PM IST)
The place: Leeds, Headingley
What to anticipate: Leeds final hosted the England-India Take a look at match in June 2025, with England chasing down a goal of 371 in a high-scoring sport. On this season’s County Championship, there was one high-scoring draw – Yorkshire vs Sussex – whereas Yorkshire fell properly quick in a chase of 426 towards Hampshire, and later received by an innings towards Surrey after posting a primary innings complete of 486. Rain is forecast for the primary couple of days, with Day 2 prone to see extra interruptions.
Crew information:
England: Jacob Bethell’s knee harm, sustained through the ODI sequence towards India final month, guidelines him out of the Pakistan sequence and opens the door for Jordan Cox to maneuver as much as No. 3. Dan Lawrence returns to the aspect for the primary time in two years after a prolific County season with Surrey and is anticipated to bat at No. 6, pushing Jamie Smith down one place. Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse are additionally again after being neglected following the Ashes, whereas Sam Prepare dinner earns one other alternative after making his Take a look at debut towards Zimbabwe final yr. Emilio Homosexual had suffered a shoulder harm through the One Day Cup however he featured within the warm-up sport towards Pakistan, though he bagged a pair.
Possible XI: Ben Duckett, Emilio Homosexual, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson / Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue
Pakistan: Masood’s availability stays doubtful for the Leeds Take a look at as he recovers from an injured index finger on his left hand, sustained through the first Take a look at towards West Indies. His alternative for the second Take a look at – Abdullah Shafique – gave an excellent account of himself with an unbeaten 160 within the first innings whereas Mohammad Abbas ought to return for the Headingley sport, having missed out from a spin-heavy Pakistan XI in Port of Spain.
Possible XI: Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Salman Agha (c), Saud Shakeel, Awais Zafar, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali
Do you know?
– Of the 28 Exams performed in England since 2022, solely two have led to attracts (each at Outdated Trafford – Ashes 2023 and India tour 2025
– England scored at 4.4 runs per over in 44 Exams below Ben Stokes, the very best for any workforce below a captain to have led in not less than 10 matches
– Pakistan’s three Take a look at sequence wins in England got here on three consecutive excursions – in 1987, 1992 and 1996 respectively. In six sequence within the nation since (all since 2001), England have received three whereas three led to attracts
What they mentioned:
“I do not suppose there’s an enormous quantity we have to change. It is small issues that can make an enormous distinction. It is not about ripping it up, I believe it is about protecting loads of the great things we have been doing for a time frame, stuff that Ben and Baz constructed for an extended whereas. I do not imagine there may be a technique of enjoying Take a look at cricket. You have to be adaptable and play the state of affairs. It is by no means the identical all through 5 days, there’s completely different challenges and you have to alter to the ebbs and flows all through” – Joe Root, England Take a look at captain, on whether or not the workforce will stick with the Bazball strategy.
