Berliner Abendpost - England on top in third Test after historic Pakistan collapse

Pakistan, already 2-0 down in the three-match series, were dismissed for a meagre 133 on Wednesday after England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to field in overcast conditions at Edgbaston.

A much-changed Pakistan line-up again had few answers to the England new-ball pair of Ollie Robinson (3-15) and Jofra Archer (3-25), with the tourists all out in a mere 33.5 overs.

Fellow paceman Josh Tongue got in on the act with 4-42, with Pakistan still to reach 200 in five innings this series.

Pakistan created an unwanted piece of history after their top five were all dismissed in a rapid decline to 48-5.

This was the first time in Test cricket that a team's top five had all been out for single figures in the first innings of a match.

Fast bowler Razaullah gave Pakistan hope with two wickets on his debut, including the key scalp of Root for just eight, with England faltering at 39-3.

But Gay (60) and Brook (52 not out) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 104 before England reached stumps on 156-4, a lead of 23 runs.

Gay's 114-ball innings ended when he played on to the fiery Razaullah, the 21-year-old taking 2-42 in nine overs.

Brook reined in his attacking instincts while compiling a 70-ball half-century.

"Coming here this morning, winning the toss, putting Pakistan in to bat, bowling them out for 130 odd -- we're in a really strong position," Tongue told Sky Sports.

Pakistan banished seven players and sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul after a heavy 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's before making four changes to their side in Birmingham.

- 'Soft dismissals' -

But only Saud Shakeel, fresh from his 97 at Lord's, offered any resistance by a specialist batsman with 43.

"I thought early on the pitch had some moisture in it and overcast conditions were helping the bowlers as well, but at the same time we got some soft dismissals and we couldn't get back from there," said Shakeel.

"We started good with the bowling. If we get them (England) out early in the morning there is a good chance we can get back in the game."

Pakistan's latest slump started when recalled opener Saim Ayub was out for a duck, lbw to Robinson as the 32-year-old took his 100th Test wicket.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, without a Test century in nearly four years, was clean bowled for just seven by Tongue.

Razaullah fell shortly after the interval and Shakeel was bowled by Tongue.

England also lost early wickets as Ben Duckett and Jordan Cox were dismissed.

Root has repeatedly got England out of trouble in his long career, but newcomer Razaullah pinned him in front of his stumps as he fell lbw for the 10th time in 13 innings.

Averaging a lowly 23.44 from his first nine Test innings, Gay completed a watchful fifty, his third in Tests and first of this series, with an elegant cut to the boundary.

J.P.Hoffmann--BlnAP