Leeds, Aug. 21 -- Joe Root began his second stint as full-time England Test captain in emphatic fashion, defeating Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the opening match of the series and earning crucial ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points on Friday.

Joe Root's first stint as England men's Test captain ran from 2017 to 2022.

The comprehensive victory helped England improve their position in the WTC standings, while Pakistan slipped below West Indies to the bottom of the table with a point percentage of 19.05.

Batting first after being asked to take strike, Pakistan struggled throughout their opening innings and were bowled out for 171. England pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue played a key role in dismantling the vis...