England vs Pakistan, 1st Test: Joe Root’s Second Coming Begins at Headingley

Test cricket returns to England this week as England host Pakistan in the first of a three-Test series at Headingley in Leeds. But this is more than just another Test match.

England are entering a new chapter after the departure of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, while Joe Root is back as Test captain. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be without their returning captain Babar Azam for the series opener after he was ruled out with a hand injury.

For South African cricket fans, there is plenty to keep an eye on, from the latest ICC World Test Championship standings to the England vs Pakistan betting markets in South Africa.

And with the first ball due to be bowled at 12:00 SAST on Wednesday, 19 August, this is one to get the coffee ready for.

England vs Pakistan 1st Test: Match Details

Match: England vs Pakistan, 1st Test

Venue: Headingley, Leeds

Dates: 19–23 August 2026

Start time: 11:00am local time / 12:00pm South African time

Format: Test cricket

Competition: ICC World Test Championship 2025–27

Series: Three Tests

The remaining Tests will be played at Lord’s from 27–31 August and Edgbaston from 9–13 September. All three Tests are scheduled to start at 11:00am local time, which means a 12:00pm start in South Africa.

Joe Root begins his second spell as England captain

The biggest storyline is obviously Joe Root’s return to the England captaincy.

Root previously captained England between 2017 and 2022, leading the side through one of the busiest periods in its Test history. He now gets another crack at the job following Ben Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket.

However, England are not quite entering a completely new coaching era just yet.

Brendon McCullum has left his position as England’s red-ball coach, but Stephen Fleming will not take over until December. Marcus Trescothick is serving as interim head coach for this series.

That means the Pakistan Tests are something of a bridge between the old England regime and what comes next. Root has already made it clear that he does not intend to simply throw away everything England achieved during the Stokes-McCullum era.

He has, however, scrapped the controversial midnight curfew and put more responsibility back in the hands of the players.

So while some are calling this the end of Bazball, Root’s message is more about evolution than revolution.

Pakistan dealt blow as Babar Azam misses Headingley

Pakistan’s preparations have taken a major hit.

Babar Azam has been ruled out of the first Test after suffering a right-hand injury during the warm-up match. The injury is to the same hand he previously hurt during the second Test against the West Indies.

Babar’s absence is particularly significant in England. He has an impressive Test record in the country, averaging around 65.8, making him one of Pakistan’s most important batsmen in English conditions.

With Babar unavailable, Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan in a Test for the first time.

That puts plenty of responsibility on the likes of Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan to carry the batting order.

Pakistan do at least arrive with some confidence after their recent Test victory in the Caribbean, but England represent a much tougher challenge, particularly at Headingley.

England’s new-look batting order

England have also made changes.

Dan Lawrence has been recalled to the Test squad after an impressive County Championship campaign, while Jordan Cox is expected to bat at No. 3.

Ollie Pope is also back in the squad, while England have plenty of bowling options available, including Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue.

One player definitely missing is Jacob Bethell, who suffered a right knee injury during England’s series against India. The ICC confirmed that Bethell will miss the entire Pakistan Test series.

The result is an England side that still contains plenty of players from the Bazball era, but with some new faces and a different leadership structure.

England vs Pakistan: The WTC picture

There is also plenty at stake in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27.

England and Pakistan are currently sitting in the bottom half of the standings. England are seventh and Pakistan eighth, according to the ICC’s latest standings ahead of the series.

That does not mean either side can simply write off their WTC campaign, but both have plenty of ground to make up.

And this is where things get interesting for South African cricket fans.

South Africa currently sit near the top of the WTC table and are the reigning champions after beating Australia in the 2025 final at Lord’s. The Proteas are now firmly established as one of the sides to beat in the current cycle.

For England and Pakistan, the challenge is therefore not just winning this series. They need to start collecting WTC points if they want to stay in the conversation for the 2027 final.

The final will again be played at The Oval in London, from 9–13 June 2027.

England vs Pakistan Test series schedule

The three-Test series will visit three of England’s most famous cricket grounds.

Test                       Venue                                  Dates                    South African Start Time

1st Test                  Headingley, Leeds           19–23 August                     12:00 SAST

2nd Test               Lord’s, London                 27–31 August                     12:00 SAST

3rd Test                Edgbaston, Birmingham        9–13 September              12:00 SAST

England vs Pakistan betting markets in South Africa

For South African punters, Test cricket offers considerably more betting options than simply picking the winner.

Local bookmakers can offer markets including Match Result, Draw No Bet, Double Chance, Top Batter, Top Bowler, player run milestones, player wicket markets, most fours, most sixes and whether there will be a tie.

For example, Betway South Africa lists Test cricket markets including Match Winner, Draw No Bet, 1X2, Most Fours, Most Sixes and player century markets. Its cricket rules also specifically cover Test-match betting, including top batsman, batsman runs and player wicket markets.

South Africa cricket betting

Popular England vs Pakistan betting markets

Match Result

The straightforward option: England, Pakistan or the draw.

Given Headingley’s conditions, England’s home record and Babar’s absence, England should start as the clear favourite.

Draw No Bet

A potentially interesting option for punters who like England but want some protection against a drawn Test.

Top Run Scorer

Harry Brook is one of the names to watch here. He knows Headingley well and has enjoyed considerable success against Pakistan in Test cricket. Joe Root is another obvious contender given his experience and current importance to England’s batting order.

Top Bowler

Jofra Archer is the headline name, particularly if there is movement in the air. England’s other seamers, including Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse, could also feature heavily.

Player to Score 50 or 100

This is another popular Test market, particularly for batsmen such as Root, Brook and Saud Shakeel.

Most Fours and Most Sixes

These markets can be useful for punters looking beyond the match result and are among the cricket markets available from South African bookmakers.

Player Runs

You can also find over/under-style markets on individual batsmen, although the exact selections and lines depend on the bookmaker.

Live Betting

Test cricket also opens up plenty of opportunities once the match starts. A strong batting partnership, early swing or a sudden collapse can all cause odds to move quickly.

Markets and odds vary between South African bookmakers and can change before and during the Test, so check the latest prices before placing a bet.

England vs Pakistan betting favourites

England are the obvious favourites for the first Test.

Match Winner- England

Home advantage, a strong recent record at Headingley and Pakistan’s weakened batting line-up all point towards the hosts.

Harry Brook – Top England Run Scorer

Brook is an obvious player to watch. He has an excellent record against Pakistan and plays his home cricket at Yorkshire’s Headingley, giving him an extra familiarity with the conditions.

Joe Root – Top England Run Scorer

The returning captain remains one of England’s safest batting options. Root will also be desperate to make a statement in his first Test back as captain.

Jofra Archer – Top England Bowler

If Headingley offers the fast bowlers anything early on, Archer has the pace and skill to make Pakistan’s top order uncomfortable.

Saud Shakeel – Pakistan’s best outsider

With Babar out, Shakeel becomes even more important to Pakistan’s batting. He is a player worth considering in individual player markets if the odds offer enough value.

Remember: betting odds are not guarantees. Bet responsibly and only wager what you can afford to lose.

Who will win the first Test?

I’m backing England.

Headingley has traditionally offered something for the seamers, particularly early in a Test, and England have plenty of quality in their pace attack. Pakistan’s biggest problem is the absence of Babar, especially against an England side that can put pressure on a weakened batting order.

That said, I don’t expect Pakistan to simply roll over.

Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan have enough experience to make England work for it, while Pakistan’s bowlers could cause problems if they get the new ball moving.

My prediction

England to beat Pakistan

England by 5 wickets

I expect Pakistan to have periods where they put England under pressure, but the home side should have enough batting depth and bowling quality to get over the line.

Series prediction: England 2-1 Pakistan

I’m also backing England to take the series 2-1.

Babar’s expected return for the Lord’s Test could make a big difference, and Pakistan are exactly the sort of side that can bounce back when everyone has written them off.

That makes the second Test particularly interesting.

For South African cricket fans, there is another reason to keep an eye on this series. The Proteas are currently setting the standard in the WTC race, and both England and Pakistan will need to find consistency if they want to challenge the leading sides before the 2027 final.

So, grab the coffee, get the Test match on and settle in.

England vs Pakistan at Headingley should be a fascinating start to a new chapter in English Test cricket.