The first Test between England and Pakistan starts on August 19 at Headingley, Leeds, with both teams looking to improve their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings.
The hosts enter the series after a 2-1 Test series defeat to New Zealand, while their last major assignment, the Ashes in Australia, ended in a 4-1 loss.
Pakistan, meanwhile, beat the West Indies 2-1 in their most recent Test series and also defeated a County Select XI by seven wickets in their warm-up.
The series comes at an important stage of the World Test Championship (WTC), with both teams looking to strengthen their standings.
The Sporting News has all you need to know about England vs. Pakistan 1st Test, including date, time, and how and where to watch it.
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England vs. Pakistan 1st Test live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch England vs. Pakistan 1st Test live in India:
- TV channel: Sony Sports Network
- Live streaming: SonyLIV
Sony Sports Network channels will telecast the series in India, while fans can live stream the action through SonyLIV app and website.
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What time does England vs. Pakistan 1st Test start?
The first Test between England and Pakistan will be played at Headingley in Leeds, England.
Play is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. local time (BST), which translates to 3:30 p.m. IST on Wednesday, August 19 for viewers in India.
England vs. Pakistan 1st Test team news, lineups
Joe Root takes over as England Test captain, with Jordan Cox set to make his Test return at No. 3 in place of the injured Jacob Bethell. Dan Lawrence has also been recalled and is expected to fill the No. 6 role vacated by Ben Stokes.
England predicted XI: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Pakistan have been dealt a major blow, with Babar Azam ruled out of the Headingley Test because of a right-hand injury. Salman Ali Agha will captain the side in his absence.
Pakistan predicted XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed.
England vs. Pakistan Test schedule
Here's the schedule for the three-match Test series between England and Pakistan:
| Match | Dates | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | August 19-23 | Leeds | 3:30 p.m. |
| 2nd Test | August 27-31 | Lord's | 3:30 p.m. |
| 3rd Test | September 9-13 | Birmingham | 3:30 p.m. |
England vs. Pakistan 1st Test: Betting odds
England are the favourites to win this Test match at 1.28 on Dafa, while the odds for Pakistan to win are 3.75.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| England | 1.28 |
| Pakistan | 3.75 |
* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.