England
Pakistan
England will face Pakistan in the 3rd and final Test of the series at Edgbaston, Birmingham. England will enter the match with a 2-0 lead and will look to complete a clean sweep, while Pakistan will aim to avoid a series whitewash after struggling badly in the first two Tests.
England have the stronger recent record, with 4 wins and 3 losses in their last 7 Tests. Pakistan have managed only 1 win and 6 losses during the same period. England also hold the better head-to-head record, winning 5 of the last 7 meetings between the sides.
Pakistan have made changes for the final Test after sending some players back and bringing in replacements. However, England’s consistency and home advantage will make them the stronger side on paper and otherwise. Pakistan will need a major improvement with both bat and ball to compete.
England’s pace attack will have the edge, with Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer already showing strong form in the series.
The betting tip is...
Top Bowler's Team - England
64 %
36 %
EnglandPakistanEngland’s key players had produced strong numbers ahead of the third Test. Harry Brook has scored 715 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 39.72 and a strike rate of 82.85. Joe Root has added 665 runs in 10 matches at an average of 36.94 and a strike rate of 58.33.
Brook has also been England’s leading run-scorer in the series, scoring 140 runs in 3 innings at an average of 46.66. Jordan Cox has scored 139 runs in 3 innings at an average of 46.33.
Among the bowlers, Josh Tongue has taken 39 wickets in 8 recent matches at an economy of 4.08 and a strike rate of 34.82. Jofra Archer had claimed 28 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 3.32. In the series, Ollie Robinson has taken 16 wickets in 4 innings, while Tongue has picked up 13 wickets at an average of 12.46.
Brook, Cox and Robinson are the key players.
Predicted Lineup: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Pakistan have made controversial changes ahead of the third Test after going 2-0 down in the series. 7 players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, have been released, while 5 uncapped players have been added.
Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal have joined the squad, while Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have taken charge of the Test coaching staff.
Shan Masood has scored 526 runs in 9 recent matches at an average of 29.22. Babar Azam has made 498 runs in 8 matches at 35.57 and 61.63. Saud Shakeel has scored 132 runs in 4 series innings at 33.00.
Sajid Khan had taken 33 wickets in 6 matches, while Mohammad Abbas had claimed 28 wickets in 5 matches. Abbas has also taken 10 series wickets at an average of 20.80.
Masood, Azam and Shakeel are the key players.
Predicted Lineup: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Saad Baig (wk), Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas
England will be the stronger side in the third Test after winning the first two matches comfortably. Their pace attack will be well suited to the conditions at Edgbaston, where movement and bounce will give the seamers chances to trouble Pakistan’s new-look batting order.
Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson will provide England with three proven options, while Gus Atkinson will add further pace and variety.
Pakistan will enter the match with a heavily changed squad after seven players were sent home, leaving several inexperienced players to face England’s established attack.
England’s bowlers will also have the advantage of confidence after dominating the first two Tests. Pakistan’s batting will face another difficult challenge, and England will be expected to take more wickets across the match.
