ENG vs PAK 2026: 3 England players to watch out for

England take on Pakistan after having undergone somewhat of a 'reset' in their ranks. Ben Stokes' shock retirement in the third Test against New Zealand left the team with questions aplenty. Brendon McCullum joined him, stepping down as coach of the red-ball side.

With a new captain and the upcoming coaching appointment of Stephen Fleming, the series could shed light on the direction of the Three Lions' red-ball side after the fanfare and fervour of the Stokes-McCullum regime. The squad has undergone a shake-up, with returning faces once again looking to stake a claim for a spot in the new project.

Here are 3 England players to watch out for in Pakistan Tests:

3. Dan Lawrence

Ben Stokes' retirement not only leaves England with a lack of leadership but also the absence of an all-rounder. The Durham man has been the side's 'balancer' for years, adding flexibility and quality on both fronts. In a left-field move, Surrey's Dan Lawrence is set to fill in the role at number six as the side's 'all-rounder'. Lawrence has been around the England set-up, making his debut in Sri Lanka in 2021, as an adept player of spin bowling. He last played for England as an opening batter in 2024, filling in for the injured Zak Crawley.

He has scored over 8,000 runs in the County Championship, of which 788 have come in eight matches this season. He has also scored five centuries and has a stellar red-ball track record behind him. His handy high-arm off-spin bowling has yielded 64 first-class wickets, with best figures of 4 for 91. 

2. Ollie Robinson

Ollie Robinson's return to England's Test side in the summer was a major talking point. The Sussex seamer was dropped from the side in 2024 due to fitness concerns and off-field issues, but made his comeback after England's lack of a metronomic seam-bowler was exposed in Australia. At his blistering best against the Black Caps on a Lord's wicket with much help for seamers, he finished with career-best match figures of 7 for 77, including 5 for 29 in the first innings, picking up three wickets in his first over back for England.

A knee injury halted his participation in the rest of the series, but he returns to the squad as part of a potential four-man pace attack. Robinson has been a standout on the Test scene, picking up 83 wickets in just 21 matches at an average of 21.91. He will be looking to once more establish himself as a candidate for the leader of England's attack as their metronome.

1. Joe Root

As is with most of English cricket's crises in the recent past, Joe Root once again finds himself front-and-centre as the man expected to put out the fires. The talismanic batter is once again back as England's Test captain and will be looking to set the record straight after his first stint at the helm ended in turmoil, with his side managing just one win in 17 Test matches, often being criticised for their passive approach.

His batting, however, leaves no questions, having reached the 14,000-run mark against the Black Caps. He had a quiet series, scoring just 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with just one half-century, and will be looking to return to his lofty standards despite the added responsibility. Root averaged 54.37 in the final two years of his captaincy, churning out runs as the batters around him struggled, and England fans will be hoping for similar numbers from their star man once more.