After what has genuinely been one of the most turbulent English summers in recent memory, England finally have a Test win to savour. Pakistan were dispatched by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley inside three days, and while there are caveats to be applied given the visitors' underwhelming bowling attack and brittle batting order, England will take it. Here is my assessment of every England player — the good, the not-so-good, and those with serious questions still hanging over them heading into the next two Tests.
Top Order: Promise Mixed With Concern
Emilio Gay had a straightforward enough outing on the surface — a breezy 33 featuring some attractive strokeplay — but it was the manner of his dismissal that will have coaches and selectors reaching for the notepad. He was caught edging behind for the fourth time in four Test matches. That is not a quirk or bad luck; that is a technical pattern that opponents will ruthlessly exploit at the highest level. Until Gay addresses that vulnerability, his tenure at the top will remain precarious. Rating: 4/10.
Ben Duckett endured a quiet match, contributing only 15 with the bat and wasting a review despite being visibly plumb in front. His move to a new position in the slips did produce a clean catch, but he will want considerably more with the bat in the matches ahead. Rating: 5/10.
Jordan Cox, deputising for the injured Jacob Bethell, was genuinely encouraging. Batting with a composure and authority that belied the situation, Cox struck 73 at number three at precisely the right tempo. He fell short of what would have been a memorable maiden Test century, but with two more Tests to come, he has every opportunity to press his case for a more permanent role. Rating: 8/10.
Middle Order: Brook Delivers, Lawrence Leaves Frustrated
Joe Root's return to the captaincy has brought an immediate sense of calm to the England camp, and his own 66 on day two demonstrated that the responsibility has done nothing to hamper his batting. Some of Pakistan's second-innings dismissals owed as much to poor shot selection as Root's bowling plans, but a captain can only work with what he has. Rating: 8/10.
Harry Brook was exactly what England have been asking for — measured, controlled, and destructive when required. His 91 from 93 balls came with barely a moment of recklessness, and although Pakistan's attack made life easier, Brook's temperament here was precisely what the management have wanted to see. Rating: 8/10.
Dan Lawrence marked his return to Test cricket with a tidy 51, though he visibly berated himself after top-edging a sweep when a bigger score was well within reach. If England want him as a genuine all-rounder, he needs to convert starts. Rating: 6/10.
Bowling Unit: Robinson and Tongue the Stars
Ollie Robinson was, without question, the player of the match. His 5-51 in the first innings was Robinson at the absolute peak of his craft, and his final match figures of 8-80 represent a career best. Conditions were helpful and Pakistan's batting left plenty to be desired, but Robinson's skill, movement, and control were outstanding. For my money, he should be named attack leader for the remainder of this series — plug him in and build around him. Rating: 8/10.
Josh Tongue was equally impressive across both innings, finishing with eight wickets in the match — the same return as Robinson. He started the first day a touch nervelessly but grew into the contest and looked a genuinely hostile prospect when given his head. Gus Atkinson, by contrast, looked short of sharpness after bowling in The Hundred, returning 1-51 without ever truly threatening. Jofra Archer improved in the second innings after struggling with his line and length in the first, and Root's ability to get the best out of Archer consistently will be one of the key challenges ahead. Atkinson: 5/10. Archer: 6/10. Tongue: 8/10.
Verdict: Progress, But Work Still to Do
This was a much-needed win for England and for Root's captaincy reboot, and the bookmakers will have shifted their outright series odds accordingly. Robinson and Tongue give England a formidable pace pairing, Brook looks back to his fluent best, and Cox has emerged as a credible option at three. However, Gay's technical frailty at the top and questions around Archer's consistency mean England cannot afford complacency heading into the next Test. The bones of something good are here — now they need to build on it.
