England face Pakistan with both desperate for Test win

Two teams desperate for success meet when England and Pakistan begin a three-Test series in Leeds.

Neither has won a series of two Tests or more in almost two years. England's last such triumph was in December 2024 in New Zealand. Pakistan's last was two months earlier at home to England.

England's Ashes series in Australia unravelled in less than 11 days, blown away as coach Brendon McCullum overestimated and underprepared his side.

England had a chance to wipe the slate clean but McCullum stayed. In June, captain Ben Stokes over-celebrated a win against New Zealand achieved on a trashy Lord's pitch and was suspended, and the Kiwis ruthlessly came from behind and took the series.

Doubts about England's leadership succession planning emerged when the captaincy was given to Joe Root ahead of Test vice-captain and white-ball skipper Harry Brook, who was endorsed by Stokes.

Adding to the sense of drift new coach Stephen Fleming, another New Zealander, will miss the Pakistan series to spend time on the other side of the world with his family.

That means Root, who has won one of his last 18 Tests as captain, will work with interim coach Marcus Trescothick, formerly an assistant to McCullum.

Pakistan have their own problems. Babar Azam is also in a second stint as captain after Shan Masood was sacked after a 2-0 loss to Bangladesh in May, which also equalled their worst losing streak overseas at seven consecutive Tests.

Babar, steady but unambitious as captain, thrives with the responsibility with a batting average above 50. His team lost an eighth straight Test last month in the Caribbean but they won two weeks ago against the West Indies in Port of Spain to restore some confidence.

However, Babar is a doubt for Headingley due to a hand injury received in the West Indies and aggravated in a three-day warm-up match last week. He will be a game-day decision, fast bowler Mohammad Abbas said on Monday.

If Babar misses out, Saud Shakeel and Awais Zafar will fill the middle order. Shakeel missed the West Indies Tests over fitness concerns but scored a century in the warm-up, and Zafar debuted in the second West Indies Test.

Masood broke a finger in the first West Indies Test and missed the second. If he is still unfit, Abdullah Shafique will continue at No. 3; in his first Test since October he scored 160 not out in the Port of Spain win.

England's XI for Wednesday was mostly set two weeks ago. Jordan Cox will bat at No. 3 for the injured Jacob Bethell and Dan Lawrence, recalled after nearly two years, is the first to try and fill Stokes' allrounder role.

Lawrence's off-spin allows England to play a fourth seamer. But Ollie Robinson may miss out with his wife expecting their first child.