Joe Root returns to the England captaincy and Headingley offers him a fittingly symbolic stage for his second act as England take on Pakistan.
Ben Stokes has retired, taking with him the balance he provided across bat and ball, while Root inherits a side still searching for identity after a bruising summer against New Zealand.
Pakistan's Caribbean triumph ended a miserable run without an away win and Babar Azam's troublesome hand has dominated the build-up.
England vs. Pakistan Prediction: Who Will Win?
England come into this series as deserved favourites, with conditions at Headingley only strengthening their case.
Home advantage has counted for plenty here down the years, and England's fast-bowling depth gives them several routes to unsettle Pakistan's top order. Jofra Archer has returned to something like his best, and his pace should trouble a batting line-up containing three left-handers who haven't always looked entirely comfortable against extreme speed.
Root's experience carries weight too. He has faced this Pakistan attack many times before and has done well. Root averages 53.11 against the South Asian side, scoring 1487 matches across 18 matches.
Pakistan showed genuine fight in the Caribbean, and Mohammad Abbas could cause problems if the ball swings. But England's greater firepower should prove decisive, and a home win looks the likely outcome.
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England vs. Pakistan Pitch Report 1st Test: Headingley, Leeds
Stat | Detail |
Total Matches | 85 |
Matches Won Batting First | 29 |
Matches Won Bowling First | 37 |
Average 1st Innings Score | 300 |
Average 2nd Innings Score | 293 |
Average 3rd Innings Score | 241 |
Average 4th Innings Score | 169 |
Highest Total Recorded | 653/4 (193 Ovs) – AUS vs ENG |
Lowest Total Recorded | 61/10 (26.2 Ovs) – WI vs ENG |
Highest Score Chased | 404/3 (114.1 Ovs) – AUS vs ENG |
Lowest Score Defended | 75/10 (44.4 Ovs) – RSA vs ENG |
Head-to-Head in Tests: England vs. Pakistan
Record | England | Pakistan |
Matches Played | 92 | 92 |
Won | 30 | 23 |
Lost | 23 | 30 |
Drawn | 39 | 39 |
Tied | 0 | 0 |
Home Wins | 24 | 6 |
Away Wins | 6 | 12 |
Neutral Venue Wins | 0 | 5 |
England vs. Pakistan Betting Tips for 1st Test
Here is our favourite betting angle for the England vs Pakistan:
BETTING TIP | ODDS |
Root to score over 37.5 in the first innings | 1.87 via Dafabet |
Root has been the most important player in Test matches and the England captain will be looking to extend that.
England vs. Pakistan Lineups, Team News for 1st Test
Here's how both sides are likely to line up in this game:
England predicted lineup to play Pakistan
Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson , Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue
Pakistan predicted lineup to play England
Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azan Awais, Babar Azam (c), Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali
England vs. Pakistan Odds: Who is the favourite for the 1st Test?
| Result | Dafabet Odds |
| England | 1.36 |
| Pakistan | 3.20 |
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How to watch England vs. Pakistan 1st test match: Live Stream, TV Channel
Here is all the key information for how to watch England vs. Pakistan 1st Test:
- Date: August 19, Wednesday
- Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds
- Time: 03:30 PM (IST)
- TV/Stream: FanCode