England Begin New Era in Test Series Against Pakistan

The three-Test series between England and Pakistan begins on August 19 at Headingley in Leeds, marking the start of a new chapter for the home side and a crucial World Test Championship assignment for both teams. England will play their first Test since the retirement of captain Ben Stokes, while Pakistan must overcome uncertainty surrounding their own skipper, Babar Azam.

Joe Root returns to lead England, having been reappointed captain following Stokes' departure and the end of Brendon McCullum's tenure as head coach. The hosts are aiming to secure their first multi-Test series victory since late 2024. Their squad sees the returns of batter Dan Lawrence and former vice-captain Ollie Pope, though young left-hander Jacob Bethell will miss the entire series with a knee injury. Jordan Cox is poised to bat at number three in Bethell's absence.

Pakistan enters the series on the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the West Indies, a result that ended an eight-match away Test losing streak. Their campaign, however, starts with a significant selection dilemma. Captain Babar Azam is battling fitness concerns after injuring his right-hand finger, first during the West Indies tour and again...