England beat Pakistan 7-0 at Headingley on 17 September 2024, giving Joe Root a successful start to his second stint as Test captain.

Fast-lane bowlers

England rebuilt its attack after Ben Stokes’ retirement, which removed 1,871 Test wickets in less than three years. The new frontline seamers - Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson - were backed by part-time off-break Dan Lawrence. In the match Robinson and Tongue each took eight wickets, while Archer and Atkinson improved after a month playing in The Hundred. Lawrence bowled only one over. With no consistently Test-class spinner in the country, England will likely keep the attack seam-heavy until the Bangladesh tour in February, where spin will be required.

Jordan Cox shines

Jordan Cox, 25, made his Test debut at number three after Jacob Bethell’s injury. He scored an assured 73, showing patience and a range of strokes that kept the run rate healthy. Though the Pakistani attack lacked pace, Cox’s performance suggests he could become a mainstay in England’s XI for the December South Africa tour. Cox also keeps wicket, adding depth to the squad and potentially putting pressure on Jamie Smith.

Jamie Smith improves

Jamie Smith, 26, has shown marked improvement in wicketkeeping after training with former England women’s keeper Sarah Taylor and playing more matches for Surrey following a finger injury. He stood up to fast-medium bowlers and even stood up to Archer at Trent Bridge. However, his Test batting average has dipped below 40, and he must avoid falling into repetitive dismissal patterns, especially after a 25-run knock off a Labuschagne bouncer in Sydney.

Stephen Fleming on the phone

Stephen Fleming, appointed last month, will not take charge of England until the Christmas South Africa series. Root said he had daily contact with Fleming during the Headingley Test, describing it as “great to have him on the end of the phone.” Fleming’s influence will become more visible if the series turns more challenging or if a critical selection decision arises.

Pakistan's problems

Pakistan’s performance was brittle: captain Babar Azam was ruled out with a thumb injury, and the team struggled with batting, bowling and fielding. They had a 1-1 draw with West Indies in Trinidad, their first away Test win in over three years. Pakistan relies on spin, but the Lord’s pitch offered no spin in England’s win over New Zealand in June. With no spin bowlers in the squad, Pakistan will need to adapt to pace-dominated conditions in the remaining Tests.