England thrash Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in first Test

England crushed ‌Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs to win a one-sided first Test at Headingley and ⁠launch Joe Root’s second ⁠spell as permanent captain in style.

The convulsions which accompanied the series defeat by New Zealand eight weeks ago, with Ben Stokes stepping down and coach Brendon McCullum being relieved of ⁠his red-ball duties, were emphatically put behind them by England.

A dominant display against a hugely disappointing Pakistan side saw the game wrapped up before tea on Friday on the third day, despite the loss of more than ⁠half a day’s play to rain.

After England added 43 runs to their overnight score to reach 409 and gain a first innings lead of 238, their pace attack routed the tourists. Mohammad Rizwan top scored with 41 as Pakistan were bowled out for 135 in 37.3 overs.

England’s Josh Tongue, who was playing in The Hundred season’s final ‌three days before the start of the test match, finished with 3-43 and Ollie Robinson 3-29. Their match figures of 8-89 and 8-80 respectively were test-career bests.

For the second time in the match, Pakistan lost their first wicket without a run on the board as Imam-ul-Haq gloved Jofra Archer to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith in the second over and it was something of a procession thereafter.

In Archer’s second over, Azan Awais was caught at leg slip by Root, who had just moved himself there in a prescient ⁠piece of captaincy. It was Root’s 219th test catch, taking him back ahead ⁠of Australia’s Steve Smith atop the all-time non-wicketkeeper list.

Everything Root touched turned to gold with Saud Shakeel clipping Tongue to an unusual backward square leg position where Dan Lawrence took a fine diving catch.