England’s pace quartet fires again as Robinson-Archer combo seals series win over Pakistan

LONDON (AP) — Long may it continue, England seam bowler Ollie Robinson said.

And there's the rub.

Robinson was talking about how successful his new-ball partnership with Jofra Archer was working out. In harness together for the first time in test cricket, they have taken 24 of Pakistan’s 38 possible wickets in the ongoing series.

They are a big reason England clinched the series 2-0 at Lord's on Sunday with a day and a game to spare.

The change bowlers, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, have come off helping Manchester win the Hundred competition and claimed the other 14 Pakistan wickets.

It's a pace attack that is exciting England supporters, who have fingers crossed the four quicks can stick together for the home Ashes series against Australia in less than 10 months.

But that's a long time for any player and the foursome has yet to be truly tested. Pakistan has underwhelmed and was struggling before it undertook its first tour of England in six years. The loss at Lord's was its 10th in its last 11 away tests. The third and last test starts on Sept. 9 at Edgbaston.

Ironically, the retirement of former captain and allrounder Ben Stokes brought the four seamers together in the first post-Bazball series for England.

New captain Joe Root said after they won the first test at Leeds by an innings that the four “do not know how good they can be.” At Lord’s, Root admitted he's still trying to figure it out, too.

“It's just getting used to it, seeing how it works, having a good understanding of it for me as captain, for them as bowlers and for us as a side,” he said. “The more that happens I think the better for it we'll be.”

Robinson has been the series standout with 8-80 in Leeds and 8-35 at Lord's. He was brought out of exile in June after two years and then got injured and didn't finish the series defeat to New Zealand.

He's credited his fortune to bowling in tandem with Archer, who regularly bowls over 90 mph (145 kph) and has hit 95 mph (153 kph). Archer puts batters in a foxhole and when they poke their heads up Robinson knocks them out.

“The four-man attack we've got, I think it's going to be very successful,” Robinson said.

"My role doesn't change, it allows me to be a bit more defensive if anything. I can just hold and be patient and not try to punch through the batters. Jof and the other guys can then bowl rapid and break it up at the other end.

“It's quite a nice pairing to open the bowling with, someone bowling that quickly and swinging the ball the other way from me. Long may it continue.”

Root praised Robinson, who has been named the player of the match in all three of his tests this summer.

“He's bowling beautifully,” Root said. "If you asked good questions of guys' defense for long period of times with a wicket that gives you assistance, you're going to cause problems. He's been phenomenal, relentless.

"It's a good contrast with the guys on the other end as well — you've got 90 mph from the other three. Even Gus today bowling 90 mph at times, it’s really impressive stuff. I think it's a really well balanced attack.

“The more they can complement each other's skill sets, it's only going to be a good thing for us moving forward.”

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

England's Gus Atkinson bowls a delivery on day two of the second cricket test match between England and Pakistan in London, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel, left, reacts after hitting a six on a delivery by England's Josh Tongue, right, on day four of the second cricket test match between England and Pakistan in London, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

England's Jofra Archer runs to bowl a delivery on day four of the second cricket test match between England and Pakistan in London, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

England's Ollie Robinson prepares to bowl his next delivery on day four of the second cricket test match between England and Pakistan in London, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

England's Ollie Robinson reacts after bowling a delivery on day four of the second cricket test match between England and Pakistan in London, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

Odell Beckham Jr. made the New York Giants’ 53-man roster submitted Sunday, a significant milestone in the wide receiver's comeback at age 33 with the team he started his NFL career with.

Beckham got better as training camp progressed and showed in exhibition play that he could still produce. He made seven catches for 76 yards over three games, including three for 53 in the preseason finale against the Jets on Friday night.

“I feel like I gave everything I had,” Beckham said afterward. “I’m just truly grateful for that opportunity, that experience. It was a tough couple years, taking a step back and deciding, do you go forward with life? Are you done? The mental battles that we go through and just push through, persevere and overcome adversity.”

Coach John Harbaugh said Beckham had a good camp, with the final week of practices being his best.

“He’s looked good and made numerous plays,” Harbaugh said.

Beckham was out of football last season, including time spent serving a six-game suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. His last game was Dec. 8, 2024, with Miami, when he played nine games for the Dolphins and had nine catches for 55 yards before getting waived on Dec. 13.

After not catching on anywhere and serving the suspension, Beckham began ramping back up this past spring. He worked out for the Giants in April, signed in June and acknowledged after one of his first offseason workouts that he would have to earn a roster spot.

Asked after the Jets game what he would mean, Beckham said, “Everything.”

“Seeing my son at the game, yelling, just looking at me, and he told one of his friends: ‘Yeah, people always want to take a picture of my dad. He must be the best,’” Beckham said. “And it just made me laugh because I just want to show him. I want to lead the way. I want to be a good example for him.”

A season-ending knee injury to Calvin Austin opened the door for Beckham and return specialist Braxton Berrios, who is being released but is expected to be brought back before the season opener Sept. 13 against Dallas. If he plays that night, it will be Beckham's first home game in a Giants uniform since Dec. 2, 2018.

Drafted 12th by the Giants in 2014, Beckham spent his first five professional seasons with them before getting traded to Cleveland in 2019. He eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving four times with New York.

After going through camp wearing No. 3, Beckham is also expected to get his familiar No. 13 back after wideout Jalin Hyatt was cut following parts of three seasons with zero touchdown catches.

Hyatt, a third-round selection in 2023, was not the only high draft pick from recent years released. Offensive lineman Evan Neal, taken seventh overall in 2022 and surprisingly re-signed for a new coaching staff to make its own determination, did not make the roster even after fellow guards Daniel Faalele and Josh Ezeudu got traded.

Veteran Darius Slayton joined Beckham, Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields as the five receivers who made it.

AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) makes a catch while warming up before a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up on the field before a preseason NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) walk on the field after a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. can't make the catch during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) can't make the catch during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)