The Albany Gazette - Robinson and Tongue star as Pakistan collapse in England opener

Recalled seamer Robinson became the first man to take a wicket with the first ball of a Test series in England on his way to 5-51 in 18 overs -- a return all the more impressive for including four frontline batsmen.

Paceman Tongue finished with 5-46 in 9.1 overs as Pakistan crumbled.

Not since Stephen Harmison and Monty Panesar joined forces 20 years ago, against Pakistan at Old Trafford, had two England bowlers taken five wickets each in the same Test innings.

England, following the loss of openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay on a rain-interrupted first day of a three-match series, were 112-2 at stumps -- a deficit of just 59 runs.

Joe Root, at the start of his second stint as full-time England captain, was 37 not out on his Yorkshire home ground.

He shared an unbroken partnership of 64 with Jordan Cox (23 not out), replacing the injured Jacob Bethell at number three.

Earlier, Imam-ul-Haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique (61) offered the only resistance for Pakistan, who are without a series win in England in 30 years.

But from 117-3, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 54 runs, with the tourists bowled out inside 49 overs.

- 'Overheads' -

Root explained his decision to field first after winning the toss by saying: "We feel there's some overheads to work with, and a bit of top moisture that our lads can exploit."

But even Root could not have forecast what came next as Robinson wasted no time in having Azan Awais lbw for a golden duck.

It was a memorable way for the 32-year-old -- recalled in place of off-spinner Shoaib Bashir -- to take his 500th first-class wicket at an impressively low average of 21.

Shan Masood had managed just five when he too fell lbw to Robinson.

England were playing their first Test following the exits of former captain Ben Stokes, who has retired from international duty, and Brendon McCullum, sacked as red-ball coach after the recent series defeat by New Zealand.

They showed no signs of being affected by those departures as Pakistan were put to the sword.

Imam was well caught low at second slip by Harry Brook following a loose drive off Tongue.

Shafique completed a fine 82-ball fifty, including seven fours.

But Saud Shakeel fell for just five when he was lbw to Robinson following the bowler's prolonged appeal.

Umpire Allahuddien Paleker took an age to raise his finger and Shakeel was then ruled to have taken too long to review the South African umpire's decision.

To make matters worse for Pakistan, replays indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.

There was no doubt, however, as 117-4 became 118-5 when, with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith standing up to the stumps, Robinson clean bowled Shafique with an excellent nip-back delivery.

Stand-in Pakistan captain Salman Agha (21), deputising for injured skipper Babar Azam, fell to Tongue, who then had Ali Usman lbw next ball.

That left the fast bowler on a hat-trick at tea.

Khurram Shahzad denied Tongue that prize by driving the first ball after tea for four. But Tongue soon had Mohammad Rizwan lbw.

Robinson completed his fifth five-wicket haul in just 22 Tests when Shahzad holed out.

Tongue put an exclamation point on England's dominant display when he bowled Mohammad Abbas for his fifth wicket.

(M.Scott--TAG)