Ollie Robinson picked up his 100th Test wicket as Pakistan crumbled to 100 for 7 in the first session on day one of the third Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pakistan had shuffled their line-up, handing debuts to three players, but the changes did little to change their fortunes. Alongside the new faces and returning players including opener Saim Ayub, who fell for a 10-ball duck established batters such as Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, and captain Babar Azam all fell cheaply. Saud Shakeel, the hero of Pakistan’s Lord’s Test, was the only experienced batter still at the crease when lunch was called on day one.
Robinson struck early with the new ball for the third time this series. Bowling from around the wicket to the left-handers, the right-arm seamer set up Ayub before pinning him in front of the stumps for a duck. Jofra Archer then removed Ayub’s opening partner, Azan Awais, who was caught at mid-wicket for nine, before Robinson accounted for Shafique for just three. Masood was undone by Archer’s extra pace, top-edging one to fall for five, leaving Pakistan reeling at 26 for 4 inside the first 10 overs.
Babar and Shakeel attempted to steady the innings with a 22-run stand for the fifth wicket, but Josh Tongue ended the partnership by bowling Babar through his off stump for seven. His dismissal meant Pakistan became the first Test side to see its top five batters all fall short of double figures in the first innings of a Test match in England.
Shakeel, meanwhile, batted fluently but found little support at the other end as wickets continued to fall around him. By lunch, Pakistan had slipped to 100 for 7, with Robinson and Archer sharing the wickets Archer picking up two and Tongue claiming three.
Shortly after the resumption of play, Robinson struck again for his third wicket, and Tongue followed up with his fourth, bowling Shakeel to leave Pakistan’s innings in continued disarray.
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