Rain interrupted the opening day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley on Wednesday, with the visitors reduced to 23-2 after England's bowlers made the most of the overcast conditions.

England won the toss and elected to bowl first. Ollie Robinson made an immediate impact, taking a wicket with the first ball of the match and later dismissing Pakistan captain Shan Masood to leave the visitors in early trouble.

Robinson removed opener Azan Awais for a duck with a delivery that moved sharply back into the left-hander and struck his pads. Awais reviewed the decision but the call was upheld.

Robinson struck again in his fifth over, trapping Masood lbw for five with another well-directed delivery.

Pakistan were 6-2 before Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq began to steady the innings. Shafique was unbeaten on 12 from 19 balls, while Imam had made five from 18 when rain stopped play after 9.4 overs.

Robinson finished his opening spell with impressive figures of 5-1-12-2, while England's other bowlers also kept the Pakistan batters under pressure.

Heavy rain forced the players from the field and led to an early lunch. Conditions later improved, with ground staff beginning to remove some of the covers, but another spell of rain was forecast.

The scheduled restart was set for 1:10pm BST, weather permitting.

The match marks a new chapter for England, with Joe Root returning as Test captain. Pakistan are playing without Babar Azam, who is sidelined with a finger injury, while Salman Ali Agha is leading the side.

England have also released five squad members who were not selected for the Test to return to their counties for this week's County Championship matches. They are Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Matthew Fisher and Ollie Pope.

Source: BBC