🏏 England Take Control as Gay and Brook Put Pakistan Under Pressure on Day 1
England finished the opening day of the third Test against Pakistan in a position of strength at Edgbaston, recovering from an early wobble to reach 156/4 at stumps and establish a 23-run first-innings lead.
Pakistan's first innings had promised very little.
After being put into bat, Pakistan collapsed to 133 all out in 33.5 overs, losing wickets at regular intervals and leaving their bowlers with almost no margin for error.
For a while, Pakistan's attack responded brilliantly.
England were reduced to 24/2, then 39/3, and suddenly the hosts were under genuine pressure.
But that was where Emilio Gay and Harry Brook changed the entire mood of the day.
Gay produced a patient 60 from 114 balls, while Brook remained unbeaten on 52 from 76 deliveries at the close. Their 104-run fourth-wicket partnership dragged England out of trouble and put the hosts firmly ahead.
Now Pakistan face a difficult second day.
They have six England wickets to take, but the hosts already have the lead, and their remaining batting lineup includes plenty of firepower.
The third Test has moved quickly.
And Pakistan are already fighting from behind.
🇵🇰 Pakistan's Batting Collapse Sets the Tone
Pakistan's first innings was the biggest problem of the day.
The visitors never established a meaningful partnership at the top of the order.
Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck.
Azan Awais made only nine.
Abdullah Shafique managed three.
Shan Masood contributed five.
Then came the biggest disappointment of all: Babar Azam was bowled for just seven.
At 48/5, Pakistan were staring directly at a disastrous total.
The Edgbaston surface may have offered assistance, but Pakistan's batting approach made England's job considerably easier.
There was no substantial top-order partnership to absorb the pressure.
There was no big score from the established batters.
And once Babar departed, the innings became a rescue operation rather than a batting performance.
🔥 Saud Shakeel Fights Almost Alone
If Pakistan had one batter who deserved credit, it was Saud Shakeel.
The left-hander top-scored with a determined 43 from 47 balls, smashing seven fours.
His innings was aggressive compared with the rest of Pakistan's batting effort, and for a period he looked capable of dragging the visitors toward a respectable total.
But even Saud could not do it alone.
Pakistan eventually reached 100/7 before the lower order added a few valuable runs.
Mohammad Abbas then provided an important late contribution with 21 from 36 deliveries.
Razaullah also scored 11 from 11 balls.
Those runs helped Pakistan reach 133, but the total remained dangerously low.
In Test cricket, 133 is rarely enough to give a bowling attack comfort unless the pitch is doing something extraordinary.
Pakistan's bowlers therefore needed an immediate response.
⚡ England's Bowlers Rip Through Pakistan
England's attack did exactly what it needed to do.
Josh Tongue was the destroyer-in-chief, finishing with 4/42 from 10 overs.
Ollie Robinson claimed three wickets for just 15 runs from 11 overs.
Jofra Archer also picked up three wickets for 25 runs in 7.5 overs.
That combination gave England complete control over Pakistan's innings.
Robinson struck first, removing Saim Ayub early.
Archer then dismissed Azan Awais.
Robinson returned to remove Abdullah Shafique, and Archer followed by getting Shan Masood.
Tongue then delivered the blow that sent Pakistan into serious trouble, bowling Babar Azam for seven.
The collapse was relentless.
Pakistan's lower order fought, but England had already done the damage.
🎯 Tongue Becomes England's Main Weapon
Josh Tongue deserves particular attention.
His four-wicket haul was not simply about collecting wickets from the lower order.
He broke Pakistan's resistance at crucial moments.
The dismissal of Babar was particularly important because Pakistan's captain had the opportunity to rebuild the innings with Saud Shakeel.
Instead, Tongue removed him and exposed Pakistan's lower order.
He later dismissed Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran before completing his four-wicket haul with Saud.
That is exactly what a Test bowler needs to do.
Take wickets when the opposition is attempting to rebuild.
🧨 England's Reply Starts Badly
Despite Pakistan's poor total, England did not have everything their own way.
The hosts' innings began with immediate problems.
Ben Duckett was caught for 11 with only 12 runs on the scoreboard.
Then Jordan Cox departed for four, leaving England at 24/2.
Suddenly, Pakistan had an opportunity.
With a first-innings total of only 133, early wickets were absolutely essential.
England could not afford to lose another couple of batters cheaply.
That is when Emilio Gay and Joe Root attempted to stabilise the innings.
But their partnership lasted only 15 runs.
Root fell for eight after Razaullah trapped him lbw.
England were 39/3.
For Pakistan, this should have been the moment to squeeze.
Instead, Harry Brook walked in.
And the match began to change.
🏏 Emilio Gay Produces a Gritty Half-Century
Emilio Gay played one of the most important innings of the day.
His 60 from 114 balls was not a reckless counterattack.
It was a controlled Test-match innings.
Gay absorbed pressure, punished loose deliveries and stayed at the crease long enough to allow England's innings to recover.
He struck nine fours and remained the foundation of England's response for much of the day.
His dismissal late in the evening finally gave Pakistan a reason to believe they could still regain control.
But by then, the damage had already been done.
Gay had helped England move from a precarious 39/3 to a position where the hosts were ahead of Pakistan.
💥 Harry Brook Turns the Momentum Completely
Harry Brook was arguably the most influential batter of the day.
He finished unbeaten on 52 from 76 balls, with four boundaries.
More importantly, he attacked when the opportunity appeared while still understanding that England had to avoid another collapse.
Brook and Gay added 104 runs for the fourth wicket.
That partnership was the turning point.
Pakistan had reduced England to 39/3.
The visitors needed another wicket quickly.
Instead, Brook and Gay took the game away from them.
They rotated the strike, found boundaries and forced Pakistan's bowlers to work harder.
By the time Pakistan finally removed Gay at 143, England were already ahead.
🧠 Cricketory Insight: The 104-Run Partnership Was the Match's Turning Point
This match can be divided into two completely different phases.
Pakistan dominated the first part of England's innings.
England dominated the second.
The crucial difference was partnership-building.
Pakistan's top order repeatedly failed to stay together.
England's middle order did not.
Gay and Brook understood that England did not need to play reckless cricket.
They simply needed to survive long enough to turn 133 into a competitive advantage.
That is precisely what they achieved.
The 104-run partnership transformed a potentially dangerous situation into an English lead.
🚨 Pakistan's Biggest Problem Is Now the First-Innings Deficit
Pakistan finished their innings on 133.
England were already 156/4.
That means the visitors have effectively surrendered the initiative despite taking four English wickets.
Pakistan now need to remove the remaining England batters quickly.
If England stretch the lead beyond 75 or 100, the match could become extremely difficult for Pakistan.
The remaining England batting lineup is not short of options.
Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue are still waiting to bat.
That means Pakistan cannot afford to think the job is nearly done.
It has barely started.
🇵🇰 Razaullah Gives Pakistan a Ray of Hope
One of the positives for Pakistan was the performance of debutant Razaullah.
He was involved in both innings.
With the bat, he made 11.
With the ball, he produced the important dismissals of Joe Root and Emilio Gay.
His removal of Gay came late in the day and prevented England from finishing even more strongly.
Razaullah's two wickets could prove important on Day 2.
Pakistan need him to continue attacking.
🎯 Mohammad Abbas Shows Why Experience Still Matters
Mohammad Abbas also played a valuable role.
With the bat, he made 21, helping Pakistan push beyond 120.
With the ball, he dismissed Jordan Cox and finished the day with one wicket.
His economy was particularly impressive.
Abbas bowled 14 overs for 37 runs, maintaining pressure while other bowlers attacked.
If Pakistan are going to fight their way back into the Test, Abbas could become one of their most important weapons.
⚔️ What Pakistan Must Do on Day 2
Pakistan's first priority is obvious.
Take wickets.
Not defend.
Not wait.
Not simply contain.
They need to attack England.
Brook is unbeaten on 52, and removing him early would be a huge breakthrough.
Dan Lawrence is only five not out, meaning Pakistan have a fresh batter at the crease who has yet to establish himself.
If Pakistan can take two or three wickets during the opening session, the match could swing again.
But if Brook and Lawrence build another significant partnership, England could establish a commanding advantage.
🧠 Pakistan Need a Completely Different Batting Approach
Even if Pakistan manage to dismiss England cheaply, their own batting must improve dramatically.
A top order that produces scores of 0, 9, 3, 5 and 7 cannot realistically expect to win a Test match.
Pakistan need their experienced batters to step up.
Babar Azam's dismissal for seven will attract the most attention, but the problem was collective.
The openers failed.
The No. 3 position failed.
The captain failed.
The middle order was left fighting an almost impossible battle.
That cannot happen again if Pakistan are to compete in this Test.
📊 England vs Pakistan 3rd Test: Day 1 Score Summary
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs.
Saud Shakeel was their highest scorer with 43, while Mohammad Abbas made 21.
Josh Tongue took four wickets for England, while Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer claimed three each.
England then reached 156/4 from 39 overs.
Emilio Gay scored 60, Harry Brook remained unbeaten on 52 and Joe Root made eight.
Pakistan's best bowlers were Razaullah with two wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali took one each.
England ended the day 23 runs ahead with six wickets remaining.
🔍 Why Harry Brook's Innings Could Become Crucial
Brook's unbeaten half-century is more than just another score on the board.
He now has the opportunity to turn a half-century into a match-defining innings.
If he survives the first hour on Day 2, England could quickly extend their advantage.
Pakistan therefore need a clear plan for him.
Bowling straight may bring the stumps into play.
Changing angles could create edges.
Short bowling may test his movement and control.
But the worst possible strategy would be allowing Brook to settle into another comfortable rhythm.
Once he starts controlling the field, Pakistan will find it extremely difficult to stop England from accelerating.
🌟 Gay's Dismissal Gives Pakistan a Lifeline
Pakistan's best moment of the final session came when Razaullah removed Gay.
The timing mattered.
Had Gay survived until stumps alongside Brook, England could have ended the day in an even stronger position.
Instead, Pakistan have one new batter at the crease.
That gives them a small opening.
But it is only a small opening.
Brook remains.
And England still have six wickets.
🏆 The Third Test Is Far From Over
Despite England's advantage, this Test is not finished.
Pakistan have shown that their bowling attack can take wickets.
They reduced England to 39/3.
The problem is that they could not sustain the pressure.
If Pakistan can reproduce that opening spell on Day 2, they can still restrict England's lead.
The bigger concern is whether their batting can respond when their next innings begins.
The match has already demonstrated one brutal lesson:
One good session is not enough in Test cricket.
Pakistan dominated parts of the morning.
England dominated the rest.
Now the visitors need to string together multiple strong sessions.
❓ FAQs About England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Day 1
🏏 What was Pakistan's score in the first innings?
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 runs in 33.5 overs.
🇬🇧 What is England's score at the end of Day 1?
England finished Day 1 on 156/4 after 39 overs, giving them a first-innings lead of 23 runs.
🔥 Who scored the most runs for England?
Emilio Gay was England's top scorer with 60 runs from 114 balls, while Harry Brook was unbeaten on 52.
💥 Who was England's best bowler?
Josh Tongue was England's leading wicket-taker with 4/42 from 10 overs. Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer took three wickets each.
🇵🇰 Who was Pakistan's top scorer?
Saud Shakeel led Pakistan's scoring with 43 runs from 47 deliveries, including seven fours.
⚡ How did Harry Brook perform?
Harry Brook remained unbeaten on 52 from 76 balls at stumps and shared a crucial 104-run partnership with Emilio Gay.
🎯 Who took two wickets for Pakistan?
Debutant Razaullah took two important wickets, dismissing Joe Root and Emilio Gay.
📉 Why did Pakistan struggle on Day 1?
Pakistan lost wickets throughout their first innings and never established a substantial top-order partnership. Their score of 133 put enormous pressure on their bowling attack.
🏆 Who is ahead after Day 1?
England are ahead by 23 runs with six first-innings wickets still available.
🧠 Final Verdict: England Have Seized the Advantage
Day 1 belonged to England.
Pakistan's bowlers gave them opportunities, but their batsmen failed to provide the foundation required in Test cricket.
The visitors were dismissed for only 133, with Saud Shakeel fighting a lone battle before the lower order added some resistance.
England then stumbled to 39/3.
At that point, Pakistan had a genuine chance to take control.
But Emilio Gay and Harry Brook refused to let it happen.
Their 104-run partnership completely changed the match.
Gay's patient 60 gave England stability, while Brook's unbeaten 52 ensured the hosts finished the day in front.
Pakistan now trail by 23 runs, but the deficit could grow rapidly if they fail to strike early on Day 2.
The message for Pakistan is brutally clear.
Take wickets. Take them quickly.
Because if Harry Brook survives and England's lower order starts adding runs, Pakistan's first-innings collapse could come back to haunt them for the rest of the Test.
The third Test is still alive.
But right now, England have the momentum, the lead and the stronger position.