First in 43 years! Azan Awais matches unwanted Pakistan record in England Test
Pakistan opener Azan Awais was dismissed off the very first ball of the first Test against England at Headingley on Wednesday, becoming only the second Pakistani opener ever to suffer the unwanted fate.Ollie Robinson produced a superb delivery to trap Awais lbw with the opening ball of the three-match series. The right-arm seamer’s wobble-seam delivery moved sharply into the left-hander and struck him in front of off stump. Awais played around the ball and was given out by umpire Chris Gaffaney.Pakistan reviewed the decision, but replays showed a clear gap between bat and ball, while ball-tracking indicated three reds with the delivery hitting the top of middle stump. Awais departed for 0 off one ball.The dismissal made Awais only the second Pakistan opener to be dismissed from the first delivery of a Test. The previous instance came in 1983, when Mohsin Khan was dismissed off the first ball against India in Jalandhar.
Robinson joins select England list
Robinson’s strike also made him only the fourth England bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of a Test played in England.Maurice Tate was the first to achieve the feat against Australia at Leeds in 1926, dismissing Warren Bardsley. Geoff Arnold then struck against India at Birmingham in 1974, removing Sunil Gavaskar, while Ryan Sidebottom dismissed Daren Ganga against West Indies at Chester-le-Street in 2007.Robinson became the latest entrant to the list by removing Awais at Headingley.Picked the wicket on the first ball of the Test in England
- Maurice Tate vs AUS, Leeds, 1926 (W Bardsley)
- Geoff Arnold vs IND, Birmingham, 1974 (S Gavaskar)
- Ryan Sidebottom vs WI, Chester-le-Street, 2007 (D Ganga)
- Ollie Robinson vs PAK, Leeds, 2026 (Azan Awais)*
The early breakthrough was also a dramatic start to Robinson’s return to the England side. The seamer had last played a Test at Lord’s against New Zealand in June, where he claimed match-winning figures of 7-77 in his first Test appearance in two years.
Robinson leads Pakistan top-order collapse
Robinson continued to trouble Pakistan’s top order as the opening session unfolded. He removed four of Pakistan’s top five batters, helping England seize control after rain had shortened the morning session.Pakistan slipped to 150/7 by tea, with Robinson finishing the extended three-hour session with impressive figures of 4-39 from 16 overs.
