Joe the Root cause of England's dominance?

England have thrashed Pakistan, winning the First Test by an innings and 103 runs in a convincing display at Headingley.

The visitors were skittled on Day One for just 171 runs, and things failed to improve in their second innings when they managed a mediocre 135.

England’s bowling attack was simply sensational, with both Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue taking five wickets apiece on the opening day. Both bowlers went on to claim another three wickets each in the second innings, finishing with eight-wicket match hauls, while Jofra Archer chipped in with 3 for 50.

England ended the first day trailing by a mere 59 runs and quickly seized complete control of the match. While Jordan Cox and Captain Joe Root played vital roles, it was Harry Brook who truly made the difference, crashing a superb 91 off 93 balls before eventually being caught by Mohammad Rizwan.

It was a grim three days for Pakistan, who struggled with the bat and failed to find any rhythm in the field. England, by contrast, made it look easy—racking up 409 in their lone innings while looking completely dominant in the field.

For the hosts, this marks just their third victory in their last eleven Test matches. Should they win the second Test, it will be their first series victory since December 2024, when they defeated New Zealand 2-1.

It is a new-look England side, with Joe Root returning to the captaincy following the departure of head coach Brendon McCullum and the retirement of Ben Stokes. Root simply went out and played his own game, making no attempt to emulate the 'Bazball' era.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former England captain Nasser Hussain praised Root's maturity and the overall composure of the home side. Meanwhile, Stuart Broad was full of praise for Josh Tongue, calling him "England's trump card" and declaring him the team's best current bowler.

The second Test begins next Thursday at Lord's (27–31 August).