A already embattled Pakistan fell further into a mire with yet another batting collapse, ending the opening day of the Edgbaston Test in a bind against England. Coming into the match trailing 0-2 in the series and following a dramatic mid-series overhaul by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the visitors handed three debuts and brought in Saim Ayub, hoping to — as captain Babar Azam had said — play as if they had "nothing to lose."

'The series is lost but we have nothing to lose'

On the eve of the Test, Babar Azam had urged his reshaped side to play without fear, insisting there was little left to lose after a dramatic mid-series upheaval. The PCB had released seven players from the touring squad — Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad — following heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord's. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul were also removed, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke brought in to take charge for the Edgbaston Test.

"The series is lost but we have nothing to lose," Babar said. "We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team."

The captain revealed the sweeping changes came as a surprise even to him, learning about the PCB's decisions only after they had been announced. "It was news to me," he said. "I found out after. The PCB decided it, so they will be able to explain better. The PCB's decision must have been taken after some thought process. It's better if you ask them why."

Babar also accepted Pakistan had failed to deliver across the first two Tests, saying: "We didn't play well in all three facets as a team. And when you don't get results, then you'll get plenty of criticism from outside. But we did what we thought was best at the time."

England captain Joe Root, meanwhile, rejected the suggestion that Pakistan had lacked fight during the series. "We've found Pakistan a challenge," Root said. "I think that's a bit disrespectful to both Pakistan as a team and to us as a team. I don't think we've allowed them to get into games because of how well we've played and how quickly we've read the situations and the surfaces that we've had."

Pakistan bowled out for 133

On the field, however, the optimism proved short-lived. Across one-and-a-half sessions, Pakistan lost ten wickets, debilitated by Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Robinson was typically difficult to score off, becoming the fastest to 100 Test wickets by a post-war England bowler. For the fifth time, Pakistan's opening stand was extinguished in single digits.

By the time Shan Masood was sent back with some extra lift from Jofra Archer — just like Azan Awais had been earlier — Pakistan had slipped to 26/4. The parade continued when Babar Azam's off stump, the tip of it rather, was literally clipped out by Josh Tongue. It was the second-lowest aggregate (24) by a Pakistan top five in a Test innings since 2000.

Saud Shakeel kept one end sealed off from damage, but there was little cushion or support around him. The middle order was torn open further by Tongue, who sent back debutant Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran. When he breached Shakeel's defences — who had inched into the 40s — Pakistan's final line of resistance evaporated.

Still, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali didn't easily budge, spending 55 balls between them. Ali even shook off a nasty hit to his right leg, with Abbas crossing 20 for only the third time in his Test career. Pakistan's innings wrapped up inside 34 overs, their third shortest against England in Tests.

England's measured response

England's reply was measured, factoring in the higher degree of swing on offer. Ben Duckett was back in the fifth over, with Babar taking a sharp catch off Ali in the slip cordon. It became 24/2 when Jordan Cox was pinged on the back pad by Abbas in front. Joe Root surpassed Steve Waugh to become the third-most capped Test player, but extended his bizarre run of leg-before dismissals, trapped by debutant Razaullah — the eighth time in ten Test innings this summer he has been dismissed in that manner.

Emilio Gay, however, was solid and watchful, planting out his front foot to drive whenever the opportunity presented. One of those attempts led to a painful inside-edge to his back knee that floored him, but he continued on, building even as the odd ball jagged around.

Harry Brook was Gay's perfect partner even as Pakistan's seamers teased the outside edge here and there, pinned to the crease at times with the keeper up. Together, they gave England their first 100-plus fourth-wicket stand at home against Pakistan in two decades. Gay couldn't see through to the close of play but still notched the first fifty by an opener from either side this series. Brook, in the company of Dan Lawrence, brought up his own fifty to put England in a comfortable position at stumps.

Day 1 brief scores: England 154/4 (Emilio Gay 60, Harry Brook 52*; Razaullah 2-42, Mohammad Abbas 1-37) lead Pakistan 133 (Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15) by 23 runs.