Below AFP Sport looks at three talking points that emerged from what was just England's third win in their last 11 Tests. Cox looks the partAny assessment of England's form at Headingley has to take account of arguably one of the weakest Pakistan teams in decades.
England's Jordan Cox hits out on his way to 73 in the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley © Darren Staples / AFP
But the manner in which Jordan Cox made a maiden Test fifty while batting in what has often been a problem position of number three for England was an encouraging sign for Root's men.It seemed as if Jacob Bethell was making the role his own only for the talented 22-year-old left-hander to be ruled out of the entire three-match series against Pakistan with a knee injury. Cox, however, made 73 in just 100 balls, including 14 fours, at Headingley, but without the kind of extravagant, and indeed reckless, shot-making that characterised England's ultra-aggressive Bazball approach under now retired captain Ben Stokes and sacked Test coach Brendon McCullum.Former England captain Michael Vaughan -- himself an elegant top-order batsman -- was among those impressed by the 25-year-old Cox."He just looked a player" Vaughan told the BBC. "He looks like he's got all the time and he played two or three shots that reminded me of (South Africa great) AB de Villiers."Pakistan's comical fielding no jokeOne of cricket's oldest truisms is if you want to know the state of a team, look at their fielding for this is the one aspect of the game, unlike batting or bowling, which can be improved as much by sheer hard work as raw talent.Pakistan's fielding at Headingley, however, was woeful, with one particularly farcical incident summing up their performance.Ali Usman lured Dan Lawrence down the pitch only for the ball to deflect off the England batsman's pad.
