England have already secured the Test series, but Pakistan’s radically reshaped squad will look to salvage pride and create history in the final match at Edgbaston.
BIRMINGHAM: England and Pakistan head into the final Test of the English summer with the series already decided, but the concluding match at Edgbaston promises plenty of intrigue after a dramatic campaign for both sides.
England have secured an unassailable series lead, while Pakistan arrive in Birmingham following a sweeping overhaul of their squad and coaching set-up.
The visitors have sent seven players home after heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, making the final match a particularly unpredictable contest.
England have also experienced major changes away from the field. Ben Stokes has retired from Test cricket, while Brendon McCullum has stepped down as Test coach. Stephen Fleming has been appointed as his successor but has yet to take charge, while Joe Root has returned to the Test captaincy.
England seek another strong finish
England have largely controlled the series but have yet to produce a century from any of their batters.
Harry Brook, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence have contributed valuable runs, while Root remains a key talking point. The former captain has been repeatedly troubled by LBW dismissals, with seven of his last nine Test dismissals coming in that fashion.
England’s bowling attack has received a major boost from Ollie Robinson’s return. After more than two years away from the Test side, Robinson has taken 23 wickets in three matches, adding considerable strength to the attack.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue have also made useful contributions, while Gus Atkinson has struggled for wickets despite showing encouraging signs with the ball.
Pakistan make sweeping changes
Pakistan’s preparations have been dominated by an unprecedented shake-up following their first two defeats.
Seven players have been released from the squad, including Salman Agha, who captained Pakistan in the opening Test in the absence of Babar Azam.
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who claimed five wickets at Headingley, has also been sent home.
The changes have extended to the coaching staff, with Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul leaving their positions. White-ball coach Mike Hesson has been brought in as interim coach for the Edgbaston Test.
Five of the seven new additions are yet to win a Test cap, while four have not played international cricket at all.
Pakistan’s batting under pressure
Pakistan’s biggest challenge remains their batting. They have failed to reach 200 in any of their four innings in the series, with their longest innings lasting only 50.5 overs.
Babar Azam will be under pressure to lead from the front, while Shan Masood will hope his experience of English county cricket can translate into a significant contribution.
Saud Shakeel narrowly missed out on a place on the Lord’s Honours Board and will look to build on that performance. Abdullah Shafique is the only other batter in the current line-up to have registered a score above 50 in the series.
Young wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig has also been called up after an impressive 2025 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign, in which he scored 1,000 runs at an average of 55.55. Ghazi Ghori remains another wicketkeeping option.
Abbas gives Pakistan hope
Mohammad Abbas has been one of Pakistan’s brightest performers, earning a place on the Lord’s Honours Board after a superb bowling display.
Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad will need to find greater consistency if Pakistan are to challenge England’s batting in Birmingham.
The pace department has also been reinforced by Razaullah, Mohammad Imran Jnr and Mohammad Imran.
The latter brings more than a decade of first-class experience, while the other two remain relatively inexperienced at the highest level.
Edgbaston presents another hurdle
Early assistance for the bowlers could be available on the opening morning before conditions become more favourable for batting.
England have historically enjoyed a strong record at Edgbaston, boasting their highest win percentage among their four home grounds where they have played more than 50 Tests.
However, they have lost four of their last six Tests at the venue, including a heavy 336-run defeat by India in 2025.
Pakistan’s record at Edgbaston is considerably less impressive. They have played eight Tests at the Birmingham venue without recording a victory, suffering five defeats and securing three draws.
With England already holding the series, Pakistan’s revamped side will have little to lose and plenty to prove. After the dramatic changes surrounding the team, a first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston would provide an extraordinary conclusion to a turbulent series.