England win the toss and bowl first against Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley under overcast conditions. The decision sets up Pakistan to bat first as the match begins in a period of change for England.
The game is framed as the start of England’s “post-Bazball” era. With captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum no longer in their roles, England are led by Joe Root for a second stint as captain. The team also has Marcus Trescothick as interim head coach until Stephen Fleming takes over full-time in December.
Across coverage, the squads are noted for adjustments and form concerns. Both sides are described as having underwhelming recent Test results, with England having won only two of its last 10 matches. Dan Lawrence returns to the Test side at No. 6 for his first match in two years and is included both as a specialist batter and as a potential spin option.
