Pakistan's troublesome tour of England continued after Joe Root's hosts took charge on day one of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.

The tourists were comprehensively dispatched in the opening two matches of this three-Test series, and responded by bringing in four players to their XI, including three debutants.

Those alterations had little impact early on Wednesday as Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer tore through the top order with two wickets apiece to leave Pakistan 26-4.

Josh Tongue continued that momentum, bowling out-of-form Babar Azam before removing two debutants – Mohammad Imran and Ghazi Ghori – all for single-figure scores.

Pakistan's other debutant, Razaullah, nicked off to Robinson for 11 before Saud Shakeel's resistance was ended on 43 by a beautiful seaming delivery from Tongue, who claimed 4-42.

Archer finished with 3-25 after curtailing Mohammad Abbas' counter-attacking 21 as Pakistan collapsed to a dismal 133 all out from only 33.5 overs.

Mohammad Ali stunted England's response, teasing Ben Duckett into an ill-timed drive on 11, before Abbas pinned Jordan Cox (4) in front to encourage Babar's new-look attack.

Razaullah then trapped Root (8) lbw for his maiden wicket just four balls into his first Test over, but Harry Brook and Emilio Gay soon wrestled back control with a 103-run partnership.

Gay eventually fell for 60 – his highest Test score – after chopping on to Razaullah (2-42), before Brook (52 not out) and Dan Lawrence (5 not out) guided England to a 23-run lead at stumps, with six wickets in hand.

Close of play on Day 1

Harry Brook finishes on 52* pic.twitter.com/FwpYqGdwVZ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 9, 2026

Pakistan problems heighten

It has been a tumultuous period for Pakistan, with off-field issues matching an equally poor performance on the pitch.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed seven players from their squad after the chastening Lord's defeat, while dismissing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.

Captain Babar admitted he was "surprised" and not consulted on the PCB's decisions, with seven new players called up, and five of those never having played Test cricket.

That lack of experience was clear as the debutants struggled with the bat. Imran missed Tongue's inswinging delivery, and Ghori was wrapped on the pads by the same bowler after surviving a review two balls earlier, before Razaullah edged Robinson to Duckett in the slips.

But there was one positive – Razaullah arguably deserved more than his 2-42, and there are few better first wickets than Root. His introduction is even more impressive, given the right-arm quick has played just eight first-class matches and taken 30 wickets.

It is an entirely different story for England, whose four-man seam attack seems to be blending well, despite Gus Atkinson going wicketless (0-31) and struggling again.

Robinson, who claimed a credible 3-15, brought up a century of Test dismissals for England, while his 19 wickets in the series are the most at a remarkable 6.84 average.

In fact, Robinson's 102 wickets have come at a dominant 19.1 average overall, with no England bowler getting close to that mark in the modern era.

Keeping him fit, along with Archer, Atkinson and Tongue, could be key ahead of what should be a more testing red-ball series against South Africa in December.