England will face Pakistan in the third and final Test at Edgbaston from September 9 to 13, with the hosts already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan now face a very different challenge after making sweeping changes to their squad and coaching staff ahead of the final Test.
England won the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before securing a 194-run victory at Lord’s. Pakistan will now look to end the tour with a stronger performance, while England will target a clean sweep.
Match details
Match: England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Date: September 9 to 13, 2026
Start time: 11:00 AM BST, 3:00 PM PKT, 3:30 PM IST
Series: England lead 2-0
Competition: ICC World Test Championship 2025-27
The third Test will begin at 11:00 AM local time in Birmingham. The match forms part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
Team overviews
England enter the final Test with complete control of the series. Their victories at Headingley and Lord’s have exposed Pakistan’s problems with the bat, while their pace attack has repeatedly created pressure with the new ball.
Joe Root’s team will now have an opportunity to complete a 3-0 series victory. England have named a 15-player squad for the Edgbaston Test, with Sonny Baker retained and Brydon Carse absent. The squad also includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Sam Cook.
Pakistan have made much more significant changes. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been released from the Test squad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also left their positions.
Mike Hesson has taken charge of the Test side for the final match, with Ashley Noffke joining as bowling coach. Pakistan have added seven replacements, including five players who remain uncapped in Test cricket.
Hesson has stressed the need for greater variety in Pakistan’s bowling attack.
“Pakistan is known for the pace, unusual actions, and mystery spin; we haven’t really been able to present any of that,” Hesson said.
The new-look squad includes left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Imran Jnr, wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig and pace all-rounders Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.
Key players
Joe Root: Root remains one of England’s most important batters and will provide experience in a lineup that has already produced enough runs to put Pakistan under pressure in the opening two Tests.
Harry Brook: Brook’s aggressive batting gives England another way to take control of an innings. His ability to score quickly can put Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure once he settles at the crease.
Ollie Robinson: Robinson produced outstanding figures of 8 for 80 at Lord’s and will again be expected to lead England’s seam attack. His control and movement make him particularly dangerous in English conditions.
Babar Azam: Babar returns to the centre of Pakistan’s plans as captain. He missed the first Test after suffering a finger injury during the warm-up match and now has an important role to play in a much-changed side.
Saad Baig: Saad is one of the most intriguing additions to Pakistan’s squad. He was named Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and now has the opportunity to make his Test debut.
Arafat Minhas: Minhas gives Pakistan a left-arm spin option and additional batting depth. His inclusion fits Hesson’s stated desire to create a more varied attack.
Head-to-head record
England and Pakistan have played 93 Tests against each other.
- Matches played: 93
- England wins: 31
- Pakistan wins: 23
- Draws: 39
England also hold the stronger record against Pakistan on home soil, with 25 wins compared with Pakistan’s 12.
Edgbaston pitch report
Edgbaston has traditionally offered assistance to fast bowlers, particularly when the conditions provide movement through the air and off the surface. That could make the opening sessions particularly important for both sides.
The venue’s Test statistics show an average first-innings score of 307, with the average fourth innings falling to 159. Teams batting first have also historically enjoyed a stronger record at the ground.
England’s pace attack therefore looks well suited to the venue. Pakistan will need their top order to handle the new ball before they can take advantage of the batting conditions later in the match.
Probable match scenarios
Scenario 1: England bat first
England will look to build a substantial first-innings total and put Pakistan’s inexperienced batting combination under pressure. Root and Brook could be central to that approach, while England’s lower order provides further depth.
Scenario 2: Pakistan bat first
Pakistan’s first priority will be to survive England’s opening spell. Babar’s experience becomes especially valuable in that situation, while Saud Shakeel and the younger batters will need to provide enough support to build a competitive total.
Probable playing XIs
The following are probable XIs, not confirmed teams. The final lineups will be announced at the toss.
England
- Ben Duckett
- Emilio Gay
- Jordan Cox
- Joe Root (Captain)
- Harry Brook
- Dan Lawrence
- Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper)
- Gus Atkinson
- Ollie Robinson
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
England’s 15-player squad also contains Sonny Baker, Sam Cook, Ollie Pope and Shoaib Bashir, so the final combination could change depending on team balance and conditions.
Pakistan
- Azan Awais
- Abdullah Shafique
- Saim Ayub
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Saud Shakeel
- Saad Baig (Wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Imran
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Abbas
- Ubaid Shah
Pakistan’s updated 17-player squad also includes Abdullah Fazal, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah, Sajid Khan and Shan Masood, so the final XI remains subject to selection at the toss.
Live streaming and broadcast
Pakistan: PTV Sports and Ten Sports will broadcast the series, with streaming available through Tapmad and Tamasha.
India: Sony Sports Network will broadcast the series, with streaming available on SonyLIV.
UK: Sky Sports Cricket will broadcast every ball, while BBC Two and BBC iPlayer will provide highlights. BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app will carry radio coverage.
Australia: Fox Sports will broadcast the series, with streaming available through Kayo Sports.
USA and Canada: Willow TV will provide live coverage.
Match prediction
England start as clear favourites after controlling both Tests so far. Their seam attack has consistently troubled Pakistan’s batters, while their batting lineup has shown greater consistency across the series.
Pakistan’s major squad overhaul makes the final Test difficult to assess. Babar Azam gives the side an experienced leader, while Saad Baig, Arafat Minhas and the other new additions provide an opportunity to build towards the future.
The biggest question is whether Pakistan’s new combination can immediately compete against an England side that has already found a winning formula. Edgbaston should offer England’s seamers enough assistance to remain a major threat, particularly if Pakistan lose early wickets.
Pakistan have a genuine opportunity to finish the tour with a better performance, but England’s current form, home advantage and bowling depth make them the stronger side.
Prediction: England to win and complete a 3-0 series sweep.
