Test cricket returns to England after the culmination of the Hundred with Joe Root set to start his second stint as captain.
Root was re-appointed following the retirement of Ben Stokes at the end of the series with New Zealand, and while the bowling attack largely picks itself, the batting line-up will be a little less familiar, with Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence set to bat at three and six respectively.
With England set for a three-match series with Pakistan starting at Headingley, we take a look at three talking points ahead of the first Test.
Has Joe Root learned from his first stint at captain?
The big talking point heading into the first Test with Pakistan is what captain Joe Root mk2 looks like. Root’s tenure wasn’t all bad; there were opening series wins against South Africa and the West Indies to kick off his time in charge before the humbling Ashes defeat to Australia in 2017/18.
There was the unforgettable Headingley Test at the 2019 Ashes, though Australia retained the urn with a 2-2 draw. Four straight series defeats, to India, New Zealand, Australia again and the West Indies brought an inevitable end to Root’s captaincy.
It’s not unfair to suggest that the only reason Root has been given a second crack of the whip is down to the lack of suitable alternatives, with only white-ball skipper Harry Brook in contention.
There was a conservatism, even fear at times, under Root that was immediately stripped away at the start of the McCullum-Stokes partnership, and Root will surely be open to a more aggressive brand of cricket this time around.
Can Jordan Cox stake a place?
The number three position has been an issue for England for a couple of years now. While Ollie Pope always had a big score in his locker – the 196 against India, the 171 against Zimbabwe, the 154 against Sri Lanka, the 205 against Ireland – there were also an awful lot of failures, being dismissed for 10 or fewer in more than a third of his innings.
The more recent woes saw Jacob Bethell take his place, though the 22-year-old hasn’t shown the consistency needed in the role. While his 154 against Australia was outstanding, he’s cleared 16 runs in just a third of his innings so far.
Bethell’s injury gives Jordan Cox another chance to showcase his talents in the Test side after scoring 27 and 25 against New Zealand in the summer.
Cox has played just once in the County Championship this season, scoring just the 204 runs. In 2025 he averaged 59.09 from 12 innings and in 2024 he averaged 65.57 from 15 innings.
We’re more used to seeing Cox in white ball cricket, but the Pakistan Test is a good opportunity for the 25-year-old.
Third time lucky for Dan Lawrence?
An excellent County Championship campaign with Surrey sees Dan Lawrence called up to the England side once more.
In his 13 innings for Surrey this season, Lawrence has scored 788 runs at an average of 65.66, recording five centuries and top-scoring with 218.
Lawrence has been shuffled around the order since making his England debut back in 2021, where he batted at five against Sri Lanka before being bumped up to three against India, then back down to seven later in the series.
Though there’s not the biggest sample size to go off, Lawrence’s worst averages have come when batting at three and two, and though he only averages 26.5 at six, he averages 48 from his two innings at seven and 33 when batting at five.
Against inferior opposition and batting lower down the order, Lawrence has the chance to make his mark.
