Pakistan vs England, 1st Test Day 1: Salman Agha's Captaincy Debut Amid Rain and Early Wickets
The opening Test of the Pakistan tour of England got underway at Headingley, with Salman Agha leading the side for the first time following Babar Azam's injury withdrawal, and Joe Root back in the England captain's role. Rain and early wickets shaped a stop-start opening day.
This is a five-day Test (August 19-23). Pakistan's first innings was completed during Day 1 despite repeated rain interruptions, and England finished the day on 2 down for 112. See our series hub page for the latest.
Joe Root won the toss and chose to field, citing overcast conditions and moisture in the pitch. Pakistan, batting first under stand-in captain Salman Agha, lost Azan Awais for a golden duck off the first ball of the match and slipped to 23/2 inside 10 overs before heavy rain repeatedly interrupted play.
Toss & Team News
Root won the toss and had no hesitation putting Pakistan in, pointing to overhead conditions and "a bit of top moisture" in the surface as his reasoning. England fielded an all-seam attack of Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Josh Tongue, with Root and Dan Lawrence available as part-time spin options if needed.
For Pakistan, this was Salman Agha's first match as Test captain, stepping in after Babar Azam was ruled out with the hand injury that had been troubling him since the West Indies tour. "It was last minute I find out I'm captaining," Agha said at the toss. Shan Masood, who Babar had replaced as captain, was passed fit and returned to the top order, while Saud Shakeel also came back into the side. For the full story on the injury itself, see our Babar Azam injury breakdown.
Pakistan Reeling Early
England's decision to bowl paid off almost immediately. Ollie Robinson struck with the very first ball of the match, trapping debutant Azan Awais lbw for a golden duck to leave Pakistan 0/1 without a run on the board. The tourists never fully recovered from that start: both Azan Awais and Shan Masood were given out via DRS review inside the first ten overs, leaving Pakistan struggling on 23/2 after 9.4 overs.
Rain Takes Over
Heavy showers rolled into Leeds and forced players off the field for extended periods through the day, repeatedly interrupting Pakistan's attempt to rebuild the innings. Despite the disruptions, play continued in bursts, and Pakistan's first innings was in fact completed before the close of Day 1, with England already batting in reply by the start of Day 2.
What's Next
For the complete series schedule and both full squads, see our Pakistan vs England Test series overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the Pakistan vs England 1st Test?
England, who elected to field first.
Who is captaining Pakistan in this Test?
Salman Agha, leading the Test side for the first time after Babar Azam was ruled out with a hand injury.
How did Pakistan's innings start?
Badly — Azan Awais was out for a golden duck off the very first ball, and Pakistan were 23/2 within 10 overs.
Did rain affect Day 1?
Yes, heavy showers repeatedly forced players off, though Pakistan's first innings was still completed before the close of play.
Is Joe Root captaining England?
Yes, this marks his return to the England Test captaincy.