Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each claimed five wickets as England bowled Pakistan out for 171 on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley, before closing the innings on 112 for two in reply. To mark the shared achievement, a member of the ground staff cut the match ball in half so the two seamers could each keep a piece as a memento.
Robinson finished with figures of five for 51, including a wicket with the very first ball of the series, while Tongue took five for 46, according to . Speaking afterwards, Robinson reflected on the unusual keepsake.
You don’t really have too many halves of cricket balls, so it’ll be something that we never forget.
Pakistan’s innings unravelled dramatically after a solid start, with Abdullah Shafique scoring 61 and Imam-ul-Haq contributing 42 to help the visitors reach 117 for three, according to Sky Sports. From there, however, the innings collapsed, with the last seven wickets falling for just 54 runs as noted by a national broadcaster's live coverage.
England's reply was anchored by Joe Root, unbeaten on 37, and Jordan Cox, who ended the day not out on 23, as detailed by a national newspaper's match report. For Root, the day marked the start of his second spell as Test captain, a milestone captured in our earlier coverage of Root and Robinson's Headingley memories and how the pair's history at the ground set the tone for the rout.
Why did Robinson miss so much cricket before this recall?
Robinson's five-wicket haul came in his first Test appearance since England's win over New Zealand at Lord's, which itself had been his comeback match following a two-year absence from the side. That contest was covered in our report on five key insights from England's win at Lord's, which highlighted his return alongside a promising debut from Emilio Gay.
A knee complaint then forced him out of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, as previously reported in our coverage of Robinson's withdrawal through knee soreness. He was subsequently overlooked for the third Test at Trent Bridge, which turned out to be Ben Stokes' final match in charge before Root's return to the captaincy. England lost both of those Tests and the series as a whole.
It was frustrating not to be able to play at the Oval. Just a bit of a freak training injury and then I was available for Trent Bridge but not selected, and I suppose that’s part of professional sport, isn’t it?
Since then I’ve just worked really hard on a bit more fitness and a bit more skill so it’s nice when it comes off on days like today. I probably learned a lot about myself when I was out of the team. At the moment I probably feel as good as I’ve ever felt.
I’m probably not in as good a rhythm – and that sounds silly after [taking] wickets – but I’m probably not in as good a rhythm as I would like, having not played red-ball cricket since Lord’s. For me, the more I play, the better I tend to get. So as long as I can stay on the park and stay fit, hopefully I can get that rhythm.
How deep are England's fast-bowling resources?
England fielded an all-seam attack for the match, with Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson completing the four-man pace unit alongside Robinson and Tongue, according to a specialist cricket outlet's report on the team selection. Robinson was quick to point out that the depth of talent extends well beyond those on the field at Headingley.
The four guys that played today – it’s a really exciting time for English cricket. You’ve got a few other lads in the background that can also come in and do the same job. I can’t remember a time in English cricket where you’ve got seven, eight, fit fast bowlers to choose from for a series.
What happens next in the match?
England begin day two of the Test still trailing Pakistan's first-innings total of 171 by 59 runs, with Root and Cox set to resume their partnership at the crease, according to a national newspaper's match report. The contest remains the opening fixture of Pakistan's tour, meaning the outcome of this Test will shape the tone for the rest of the series.
- Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in 48.1 overs at Headingley on 19 August 2026.
- Ollie Robinson finished with five wickets for 51 runs, his fifth Test five-wicket haul.
- Josh Tongue took five wickets for 46 runs in the same innings.
- England closed day one on 112 for two, with Joe Root (37 not out) and Jordan Cox (23 not out) unbeaten.
- The match ball was cut in half so Robinson and Tongue could each keep a share as a memento.
