Jordan Cox brings swagger to No 3 as England take control against Pakistan at Headingley
Jordan Cox announced himself as a Test batsman with a fearless maiden fifty on day two of the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley, helped put England into a position of command, and then fell for a stylish 73 trying to dominate a spinner who had his number.
Cox resumed on 23 on the second morning and reached his first Test half-century off 78 balls, striking 10 fours along the way — the benchmark fifty that every international batter chases. The innings was laced with intent. At one point he tore into Pakistan's Khurram, hitting seven boundaries in the space of 12 deliveries, a burst that turned a steady start into something far more menacing (Reuters).
It was only Cox's second Test appearance. He debuted in June 2026, but his path to this stage has been anything but smooth. A broken thumb ruled him out of a planned debut against New Zealand in late 2024, meaning the 24-year-old had to wait nearly two more years for his chance. He took it here only because Jacob Bethell, the incumbent at No 3, was sidelined by a knee injury. Cox was told he would occupy that position — the specialist batsman who comes in third, traditionally the toughest slot in the order — for at least the first two matches of the three-Test series (BBC Sport).
The Headingley crowd had already seen a glimpse of Cox's pedigree in county cricket, where he made 238 not out for Kent against Sussex at the age of 19 — his fifth first-class match. That innings suggested a player who could bat for long stretches. This one, at a higher tempo against a Pakistan attack searching for answers, suggested he could also take the game forward when the situation demanded it.
Cox was eventually dismissed for 73, caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who became the first bowler to remove him in this innings of genuine substance. The wicket came amid a tricky passage for England. Cox and Joe Root had earlier rebuilt after England lost two wickets in eight balls, adding 50 for the third wicket in 72 balls. Root, captaining the side on his return to the leadership for this series, brought up his 109th fifty-plus score in Test cricket during the same innings (BBC Sport).
Both set batters fell in quick succession, though, after England burned through their reviews — the system that allows teams to challenge umpiring decisions, limited to two per innings. Pakistan removed Cox and Root in a cluster that briefly swung the match back towards equilibrium (BBC Sport).
England still held the advantage. According to ECB live coverage, they led Pakistan by 47 runs with six wickets in hand (ECB). With Harry Brook, England's most consistent run-scorer in the series, among those still at the crease, the hosts had enough batting left to press home their position on a surface that was beginning to wear.
For Cox, there was the satisfaction of a maiden Test fifty and a contribution that mattered to the team's cause. He had spoken before the series about leaning on advice from Virat Kohli, the former India captain, on handling the mental demands of Test cricket (BBC Sport). The approach showed in his body language and his shot selection — an innings played on the front foot, in every sense.
The series continues with a third and final Test to come, and England, under Root's stewardship, well placed to press their advantage.
