Ollie Robinson made a huge start to England's new Test series against Pakistan by taking a wicket with the first ball. England's fast bowler took Pakistan batter Azan Awais LBW at Headingley to make a rare piece of cricket history.
The dismissal came off the opening delivery of the Test series. Robinson sent the ball towards Awais, who missed it and was given out LBW. That wicket immediately gave England a dream start and put Pakistan under pressure from the first delivery.
The achievement also brought back memories of India’s legendary Kapil Dev. Kapil Dev took a wicket with the first ball of a Test series against Pakistan in 1983. Mohsin Khan was LBW on the opening delivery in Bengaluru.
That means Robinson has now matched a remarkable feat associated with one of India's greatest fast-bowling all-rounders.
The record is particularly interesting because taking a wicket with the first delivery of a Test series is very rare. Bowlers have very little room for error with the opening ball, and batters are usually fresh and ready to face the new ball.
Robinson Recreates Kapil Dev’s 1983 moment.
Robinson is at his peak of England career. After more than two years away from international cricket, the 32 year old returned to the Test side in 2026.
His comeback started against New Zealand at Lord's in June and was an outstanding performance. He took four wickets for only 10 runs on the first day and finished the match with seven wickets for 77 runs. England won the Test and Robinson was awarded the Player of the Match.
He had last played Test cricket for England against India in February 2024. Injuries and fitness problems had kept him from the team and there were doubts on whether he would return to the international side.
So his return is now one of the most interesting stories in England’s 2026 Test season.
Robinson's early breakthrough showed why England brought him back into the Test team. He got the perfect start by taking a wicket with his first delivery and immediately put Pakistan under pressure.
The wicket also put Robinson in a rare England record. He was the first England bowler since James Anderson in 2019 to take a wicket with the opening ball of a Test series and also the first England bowler to do so on home soil since Ryan Sidebottom in 2007, according to reports.
It brought up memories of Kapil Dev’s feat in 1983. In India’s Test series against Pakistan that year, Kapil dismissed Mohsin Khan with the very first ball. Over 40 years later, Robinson also made a similar start against Pakistan.
That is, very few bowlers have been able to take a wicket with the first delivery of a Test series in the history of the game, which makes Robinson's achievement even more remarkable.
The early wicket for England was exactly the kind they would have wanted. Losing a batter from the first ball forced Pakistan to settle down immediately and gave England's bowlers an early advantage.
Now Robinson’s career has taken a different turn. Not so long ago he didn’t know if he’d ever play for England again. He returned to Test cricket after a lot of hard work and a lot of fitness and regaining his bowling rhythm.
As a result, he showed at Lord’s against New Zealand that he could still make a big impact at international level. His first ball wicket against Pakistan has added to his comeback story…
As the Test series goes on, England's bowlers will now have to come to the fore. His swing of the new ball and movement can be a huge threat for fast bowlers in conditions that favour fast bowlers.
Cricket fans in India get better and better with Kapil Dev in the picture. Kapil is one of India’s greatest cricketers so far and one of the key players in the country’s most celebrated 1983 World Cup victory.
Robinson’s achievement doesn’t quite come close to Kapil’s career success, but repeating such a great first ball performance against Pakistan has created a striking statistical connection between the two players.
But Robinson’s comeback is of a more dramatic sort.
After two years out of Test cricket, he comes back with immediate impact. His performance against New Zealand and his first ball wicket against Pakistan suggests England might have found an experienced fast bowler at an important time.
Now Robinson will try to build on this start and contribute throughout the series.
But one delivery has already secured his place in the record books. His first ball wicket against Pakistan has brought back memories of Kapil Dev’s famous opening delivery in 1983 and provided England with a great introduction to the Test series.
