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Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue help put England in charge against Pakistan

Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shared all 10 wickets as England welcomed Joe Root’s return as Test captain with a dominant performance on the opening day at Headingley.

Just over six weeks since Ben Stokes’ dramatic Trent Bridge retirement, a chaotic episode that was quickly followed by Brendon McCullum’s removal as red-ball head coach, Root was back at the helm of a team deep in transition.

Root’s primary contribution on day one of the Rothesay Series was winning the toss on home soil and inserting the opposition under unsettled Yorkshire skies, but it was enough to set his side on the right track. Robinson and Tongue took care of the rest.

Ollie Robinson (centre) celebrates with team-mates after a wicket (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

The tourists were rolled for 171 in 48.1 overs, Robinson kicking things off with a wicket off the very first ball of the day as he led the charge with figures of five for 51 and Tongue polishing off the lower order as he bagged five for 46.

England responded by reaching 112 for two, Root and Jordan Cox sharing an unbeaten half-century stand that shrunk the deficit to just 59 runs overnight.

While that represented an emphatic start to Root’s second act as skipper, a job that previously took a heavy toll over the course of five years, it was also a strong statement from Robinson.

The 32-year-old was recalled from two-and-a-half years of exile at the start of the summer, took a career-best seven-wicket haul against New Zealand, then missed the next two games as the Stokes saga played out. Initially rested due to a knee twinge at The Oval he was deemed surplus to requirements at Trent Bridge.

After another display of high quality and control, the Sussex man is unlikely to be judged expendable any time soon.

Handed the new ball in ideal conditions for his subtle brand of new-ball bowling he hit the jackpot immediately, jagging it back in from round the wicket to pin Azan Awais lbw. The left-hander reviewed unsuccessfully and duly became the first batter to be dismissed by the opening delivery of a Test series in England.

With the new era off to a dream start, Robinson nabbed another in his third over – former Yorkshire captain Shan Masood beaten by swing and trapped in front of the stumps to make it six for two.

Pakistan had time to regroup as rain forced an early lunch after less than an hour’s play, eventually resuming at 1.45pm. The break had a calming effect on the visitors, with Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique piecing together a steady stand of 91, aided by Jofra Archer’s wayward leg-side line and an inconsistent start from Tongue.

The latter, fresh from winning The Hundred with Manchester Super Giants, took time to find a threatening Test length but had Imam (42) caught low at second slip by Harry Brook when he located his groove.

England seized the moment with two more from Robinson, probing away with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith standing up to the stumps. Saud Shakeel was unlucky, wrongly given lbw after a lengthy appeal only to signal for a review just after his time ran out, but the composed Shafique (61) was beaten by a beauty that snaked through and hit leg stump.

Tongue provided a rousing finish to the session, cleaning up stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman with successive balls to give the hosts a firm grip on proceedings. With their tail exposed, Pakistan were out of resistance.

Ollie Robinson celebrates completing a five-wicket haul (Mike Egerton/PA)
Ollie Robinson celebrates completing a five-wicket haul (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Robinson was first to bring up his five-for, Khurram Shahzad chipping waywardly down the ground, with Tongue going full and fast as he rounded up his next three in a clinical 10-ball burst either side of tea.

The same pattern continued after the change of innings, both England openers gone inside 10 overs. Mohammad Abbas was desperately close to getting Ben Duckett lbw with his third delivery before eventually nailing him in front of middle for 15, while Emilio Gay made a quick 33 before nicking Mohammad Ali.

Root was at ease as he finished unbeaten on 37, with Cox 23no in his audition knock at number three.

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