England v Pakistan, Headingley, Leeds, England

19 Aug 26

England v Pakistan

First Rothesay Men's Test Match

Headingley

Leeds, England

Our first visit to Headingley for Day 1 of the 1st test against Pakistan. The Men's team has had a re-shuffle since Ben Stokes retired from international duty and Yorkshire's Joe Root is now Captain

England v Pakistan Men’s Test Match	England 1st	England 2nd	Pakistan 1st	Pakistan 2nd	Result
1st T: Headingley, 19-23 Aug	409 ao		171 ao	135 ao	England win by Innings + 103 rs
2nd T: Lords,  27-31 Aug
3rd T:Edgbaston,  9-13 Sep

Day One Highlights

Despite the early rain there are plenty of wickets taken and at  close of play Pakistan are all out for 171 and England are chasing hard, ending play on 112 for 2

The storm clouds are already gathering on Day One of the 1st Test at Headingley but this is Yorkshire and play is under way

Western Terrace (Block B)

We enter through the Kirkstall Lane entrance

Our seats are in Block B of the Western Terrace

A proper cricket ground

The Pavilion is the main members' stand at the Kirkstall Lane End and is considered to have the best view in the ground. 

The Scoreboard/Replay Screen are dominated by the Headingley Parish Church

The Howard Stand is immediately to my right and is the new £45m stand that was built together with the North Stand of the Rugby League club which backs on to it.  Straight in front is the East Stand which is the largest single stand and houses the Headingley Lodge Hotel and the YCCC museum

The West Terrace is the rowdy 'Party Stand' which the Barmy Army usually frequent. For the less rowdy, the '1863' and 'Popular' enclosures do not allow fancy dress 

"Yorkshire, Yorkshire"

After about an hours play the rain came in, so we headed down the pub for an early lunch

War Memorial in Headingley

The Skyrack pub is  a Grade 11 listed 19th century building. It's name derives from the Old English "Scir ac" which means Shire Oak. During the Viking period a court (wapentake) would meet under the oak to resolve disputes, make decisions and muster for war. The oak tree finally collapsed in 1941 and now all that is a plaque in the pub opposite, 'The Original Oak'.

I fell in love with this Ale

YCCC are the most successful county in England

betfair are sponsors of YCCC

The afternoon session is looking gloriously promising

 Panning across the grounds

At the start of the rain delayed 2nd session Pakistan are 42-2

Simon Finch is the new Barmy Army trumpeter, taking over the responsibility from Billy Cooper in 2020

Draco Malfoy fails to down his pint in one and must therefore pay the price for his failure

Yorkshire Rose is shining bright

 Pakistan are 101-3 and that is about as good as it would get as they were bowled out for 171

The late afternoon sun is out and England are into bat

Beautiful Headingley

With the day coming to close England are 103 for  2

Hide the snake!!

Feed the snake and it will grow !

Simon on the trumpet

Barmy Army

After play we went to the Skyrack to meet Marti and John and then onto the Highland Laddie which was voted No 1 Best Pub in Britain 2025 by the Good Food Guide