ENG vs PAK Fantasy Prediction, 1st Test: England vs Pakistan Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Headingley

A new era begins at Headingley. Ben Stokes has retired from international cricket, Brendon McCullum has gone as head coach, and Joe Root returns as England’s Test captain for the first time since 2022. Marcus Trescothick takes interim charge of the coaching until Stephen Fleming arrives later this year. The ENG vs PAK 1st Test sees Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, come in off a drawn series in the West Indies and sit one place below England in the World Test Championship standings, so both sides badly need points.

ENG vs PAK Match Details

Match: England vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026
Date: Wednesday, 19 August to Sunday, 23 August 2026
Time: 11:00 AM Local Time (3:30 PM IST)
Venue: Headingley, Leeds, England
Tournament: ICC World Test Championship 2025–27

Recent Form

England have won two of their last five Tests and are coming off a chastening home series against New Zealand, which they lost 2-1 after winning the opener. They were bowled out for 212 and 209 in the two defeats. Before that they lost the Ashes in Australia, though they did win the fourth Test in Melbourne.

Pakistan have won just one of their last five, but that win was their most recent outing and it was a good one. They beat West Indies in the second Test, posting 387 and dismissing the hosts for 344 and 117 to level that series 1-1. Before that they had lost the first Test in the Caribbean and both matches in Bangladesh.

Series Context

This is the first of three Tests, continuing at Lord’s before finishing at Edgbaston in September. England sit seventh in the World Test Championship standings with Pakistan eighth, so every session matters for two sides trying to climb the table.

ENG vs PAK Head to Head Record

England lead the head to head 6-4 over the last 10 Tests, though Pakistan won the most recent series between them, taking the 2024 series in Pakistan 2-1. England won the first Test of that series in extraordinary fashion, declaring on 823/7 after Pakistan had made 556, before Pakistan’s spinners took control of the last two matches on turning pitches.

Conditions at Headingley will be very different, which shifts the balance back towards the hosts.

ENG vs PAK Squads

England: Joe Root captains the side in his second spell in the role, having previously led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022. Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the entire series with a right knee injury sustained during the ODI series against India, which opens the door for Jordan Cox at number three. Dan Lawrence returns for the first time since 2024 after a superb County Championship season for Surrey and is expected to bat at six, taking on the all rounder role vacated by Stokes. Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse and Sam Cook have also been recalled. Full squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox (wk), Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue.

Pakistan: Babar Azam captains the side. Shan Masood returns after missing the second Test in the West Indies with a fractured finger, and Abdullah Fazal is also back after being ruled out of that series. Mohammad Rizwan keeps wicket, with Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq providing batting depth. The bowling attack leans on Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Aamir Jamal, with Sajid Khan the frontline spinner. Full squad: Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Fazal, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Ubaid Shah, Ali Usman, Muhammad Awais Zafar.

Pitch Report

Headingley has been an even contest across 17 matches, with the sides batting first and bowling first each winning 47 percent of the time. The scoring pattern is unusual for a Test venue. The average first innings score is 288, but the second innings average is actually higher at 333, before dropping to 297 in the third and just 165 in the fourth.

That fourth innings figure is the key number. Batting last at Headingley is difficult, so winning the toss and setting up a target has real value here. The highest total recorded at the ground is 570/7 by West Indies against England.

Weather Report

Leeds looks reasonable for the first three days, with rain chances of around 25 percent on day one, 20 percent on day two and 25 percent on day three, and temperatures in the mid 60s Fahrenheit. Day four is the concern, with a 65 percent chance of rain and temperatures dropping, before conditions improve again for day five. Overcast English conditions will help the seamers on the opening morning.

Probable Playing XIs

England (Probable): Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

Pakistan (Probable): Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.

These are the likely lineups. Both are confirmed at the toss. England still have a decision to make between playing Shoaib Bashir as a specialist spinner or going with four frontline seamers and relying on Lawrence and Root for spin.

Key Player Battles

Joe Root vs Mohammad Abbas: Root begins his second captaincy stint at his home ground, where he has scored heavily throughout his career. Abbas is the most accurate seamer Pakistan possess and thrives in English conditions, making this the contest that could define the series.

Babar Azam vs Jofra Archer: Babar leading Pakistan against Archer’s pace on a Headingley surface offering movement is as good a test as batting gets. Pakistan’s hopes rest heavily on their captain making runs.

Harry Brook vs Sajid Khan: Brook at his home ground against Pakistan’s frontline spinner. Sajid took wickets in bunches against England in 2024, though conditions here will be far less helpful to him.

ENG vs PAK 1st Test Fantasy Team

Wicket Keeper: Mohammad Rizwan,

Batter: Joe Root (C), Babar Azam (Vc), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Saud Shakeel,

All-Rounder: Brydon Carse,

Bowler: Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Mohammad Abbas, Gus Atkinson,

Root gets the captaincy as England’s captain, their best batter, and a player with an outstanding record at Headingley. Babar is vice captain as Pakistan’s captain and the batter they most depend on. In Tests, frontline bowlers who send down long spells across four innings often outscore batters, so Archer, Abbas, Tongue and Carse all earn places, alongside the top order batters most likely to face heavy volumes of deliveries.

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Match Prediction

England are favourites at home, but this is a side in transition. They have lost four of their last seven Tests, Stokes has retired, McCullum has gone, and Root is taking over a team without a settled all rounder or a clear bowling combination. The Bazball era has ended, and how quickly the new setup finds its identity is the biggest question of the series.

Pakistan arrive with momentum from that win in the Caribbean and a captain in Babar Azam who has a point to prove. Their seam attack of Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Aamir Jamal is well suited to English conditions, more so than the spin heavy approach that beat England at home in 2024.

England get the nod on home advantage and batting depth, with Root, Brook and Duckett all capable of big scores at Headingley. But Pakistan are better equipped for these conditions than their recent record suggests, and rain on day four could yet make a draw the likeliest outcome.

ENG vs PAK 1st Test Fantasy Prediction FAQs

Q. Who will win the ENG vs PAK 1st Test at Headingley?
A. England are favourites at home with a strong batting order including Joe Root and Harry Brook, though they are in transition after Ben Stokes’ retirement. Pakistan have a seam attack well suited to English conditions and come in off a Test win in the West Indies.

Q. Why is Joe Root captaining England?
A. Ben Stokes retired from international cricket during the New Zealand series, and Brendon McCullum departed as head coach. Root has returned as full time Test captain for the first time since 2022, with Marcus Trescothick as interim coach until Stephen Fleming takes over later this year.

Q. Is Jacob Bethell playing in this Test?
A. No. Bethell has been ruled out of the entire three match series with a right knee injury sustained during England’s ODI series against India. Jordan Cox is expected to take his place at number three.

Q. What is the ENG vs PAK Fantasy prediction for the 1st Test?
A. Joe Root and Babar Azam are the top picks, with Harry Brook, Jofra Archer and Mohammad Abbas also strong options across five days.

Q. What is the pitch report for Headingley, Leeds?
A. It has been an even contest, with batting first and bowling first each winning 47 percent of matches. The fourth innings average of just 165 is the key number, meaning batting last here is difficult and setting a target has real value.

Q. What is the probable Playing XI for ENG vs PAK?
A. England should be led by Joe Root with Jordan Cox at three and Dan Lawrence at six. Pakistan will build around captain Babar Azam, Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan. Final XIs are confirmed at the toss.

Q. Will rain affect the ENG vs PAK 1st Test?
A. Possibly on day four, which carries around a 65 percent chance of rain. The first three days look mostly clear with rain chances of 20 to 25 percent, and day five should improve again.