Joe Root’s England captaincy got off to a flying start as his side crushed an inexperienced Pakistan team by an innings and 103 runs inside three days at Headingley. After posting a commanding 409 in their lone batting effort, the hosts tore through Pakistan's lineup twice in rapid succession. Having bundled the visitors out for 171 in their first turn, England needed just 37.3 overs to wipe them out for 135 in the second.
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Root's creative tactical mind was on full display throughout the collapse, with inventive field placements directly delivering breakthroughs. Jofra Archer set the tone early with a sharper two-wicket opening spell that left Pakistan reeling at 13-2, including Azan Awais flicking a catch straight to Root at a tailored leg slip position. Josh Tongue then tore through the middle order after lunch, utilizing an unorthodox backward square leg to remove Saud Shakeel before ending Shan Masood’s resistance for 29. Tongue and Ollie Robinson finished as the match's standout performers, taking eight wickets apiece across the Test.