Athens News - England v Pakistan first Test: Three talking points

Below AFP Sport looks at three talking points that emerged from what was just England's third win in their last 11 Tests.

Cox looks the part

Any assessment of England's form at Headingley has to take account of arguably one of the weakest Pakistan teams in decades.

But the manner in which Jordan Cox made a maiden Test fifty while batting in what has often been a problem position of number three for England was an encouraging sign for Root's men.

It seemed as if Jacob Bethell was making the role his own only for the talented 22-year-old left-hander to be ruled out of the entire three-match series against Pakistan with a knee injury.

Cox, however, made 73 in just 100 balls, including 14 fours, at Headingley, but without the kind of extravagant, and indeed reckless, shot-making that characterised England's ultra-aggressive Bazball approach under now retired captain Ben Stokes and sacked Test coach Brendon McCullum.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan -- himself an elegant top-order batsman -- was among those impressed by the 25-year-old Cox.

"He just looked a player" Vaughan told the BBC. "He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots that reminded me of (South Africa great) AB de Villiers."

Pakistan's comical fielding no joke

One of cricket's oldest truisms is if you want to know the state of a team, look at their fielding for this is the one aspect of the game, unlike batting or bowling, which can be improved as much by sheer hard work as raw talent.

Pakistan's fielding at Headingley, however, was woeful, with one particularly farcical incident summing up their performance.

Ali Usman lured Dan Lawrence down the pitch only for the ball to deflect off the England batsman's pad.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, fielding at slip, seemed more concerned by appealing for lbw than running out Lawrence.

By the time Agha realised the chance was on, he let fly with a panicked throw straight into the rear of wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who was blocking the stumps.

Pakistan then failed with an ensuing review of the lbw decision as Lawrence had been struck outside off stump.

Several Pakistan fielders, meanwhile, tried to stop eventual boundaries by sticking out a boot rather than bending down, including left-arm spinner Usman whose five-wicket haul was a rare highlight for his side.

"There's no excuse for it," Usman admitted. "We should put in more effort. There were lapses in the field today and it cost us runs."

England's love affair with Leeds goes on

England have now won seven Tests in a row at Headingley -- their longest current winning streak at any ground in the world.

That sequence includes two wins over Australia yet, remarkably, Yorkshire's headquarters will not stage a Test when England's oldest rivals arrive for next year's Ashes series.

The Leeds ground has effectively lost out to Hampshire's Rose Bowl, which will be making its Ashes debut.

This is despite Headingley, one of world cricket's most storied venues, providing a pitch that is often favourable to England's seamers, with the crowd -- particularly on the old Western Terrace -- giving raucous support to the home side.

"I would love to play as many games as possible here," said local hero Root. "It's a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket.

It is hard to imagine Australia doing without a home Ashes Test at their Gabba fortress in Brisbane.

"As a player, you want to play at the grounds you have most success at as a team," said Root. "I love playing here –- as a Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth, so I'm glad it's the case."

Z.Papadakis--AN-GR