Robinson and Tongue's five-wicket hauls give Root ideal start as England dominates Pakistan

Joe Root walked back into the England captain's office on Wednesday at Headingley with the kind of gift every leader dreams of: his bowlers dismantling the opposition before lunch had even settled. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each claimed five wickets, reducing Pakistan to 171 all out in just over 48 overs on the opening day of the series. It was the sort of start that erases doubt, at least for a moment.

Root had won the toss and chosen to bowl. Robinson, operating at 78.4 miles per hour—the slowest of England's pace attack that day—set the tone immediately, trapping Azan Awais leg before with the very first delivery. What followed was a masterclass in restraint and precision. Robinson found the full length repeatedly, letting the pitch do the work, and finished with figures of 5-51. Tongue took longer to find his rhythm, but once he did, he was relentless. His final burst was devastating: four wickets in eleven balls, the last five Pakistan batsmen falling for just 21 runs. Tongue's 5-46 completed a rare feat—the first time in two decades that two England bowlers had each taken five wickets in the same Test innings.

Pakistan's batting, already weakened by the absence of captain Babar Azam through injury, offered little resistance. Abdullah Shafique managed 61 runs and Imam-ul-Haq contributed 42, but these were islands of competence in a sea of fragility. A rain delay of nearly two hours was perhaps the only thing that prevented Pakistan's collapse from being even more emphatic. The stand-in captain, Salman Ali Agha, said afterward he would have batted had he won the toss—a telling admission that Pakistan's bowlers held more confidence than their batsmen.

Root's second spell as captain—he had led England four years earlier before stepping aside—barely required his tactical acumen. His bowlers had done the heavy lifting. Yet when England began their reply, the captain's steadying hand became necessary. Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay, playing in the aggressive style that had defined the Bazball era under Ben Stokes, were both dismissed cheaply. England found themselves 48-2, vulnerable. It was Root himself, along with Jordan Cox at number three, who rebuilt. By day's end, England had reached 112 for two, with Root unbeaten on 37 and Cox on 23. They trailed by 59 runs, but the trajectory felt secure.

Root's return comes at a peculiar moment for English cricket. Ben Stokes has retired from Test cricket, Brendon McCullum has been sacked as coach, and the new era under Stephen Fleming does not officially begin until winter. England has won only two of its previous ten matches—a record that demanded immediate improvement. This opening day provided exactly that. Robinson, who had been overlooked during the Bazball period for his lack of pace, has now claimed five wickets in consecutive Tests since his comeback in June. He celebrated the birth of his first child just days before this match. Tongue, by contrast, was identified as an England prospect precisely because of his speed, yet here he was operating at 87.1 miles per hour while Robinson, the supposed liability, was the slower of the two.

The groundsman faced an unusual problem at close of play: both bowlers wanted to keep the match ball. The solution was practical and symbolic—the ball was cut in half so each could take a piece. It was a small gesture that captured something of the day: two bowlers who had been underestimated or overlooked, now sharing the spoils of a performance that had given their captain the foundation he needed. Rain is forecast for much of the next two days, which may well work in England's favor. They have already done enough on day one to suggest that Root's second reign might not be the struggle many had feared.