England arrive at Edgbaston with the series already wrapped up, having crushed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before following it up with a 194 run win at Lord’s. That 2-0 lead has turned this final Test into something close to a free hit for Joe Root’s side, a chance to manage workloads and look at depth before a demanding winter.
Pakistan have used the same dead rubber very differently. Seven players have been released from the squad, two coaches have lost their jobs mid series, and five uncapped names have been thrown into the mix. Cricket Insider UK breaks down the squads, the team news and everything else you need before the final Test of this tour.
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Match Details
This is the last of three Tests on Pakistan’s tour and the second to be played as a genuine dead rubber this English summer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test |
| Series | Pakistan tour of England 2026 |
| Dates | Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 September 2026 |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Start time | 11:00am local / 10:00am GMT / 3:30pm IST |
| Match number | Test no. 2635 |
| Series score | England lead 2-0 |
(Source: Cricbuzz, ECB)
Edgbaston Venue Guide
Edgbaston is Warwickshire’s home ground and one of England’s most reliable venues for producing results rather than draws.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Edgbaston |
| City | Birmingham, England |
| Capacity | 21,000 |
| Ends | City End, Pavilion End |
| Home county | Warwickshire |
(Source: Cricbuzz)
Edgbaston Pitch Report
Edgbaston has hosted 61 Tests, and its numbers show a pattern worth knowing before the toss.
| Venue Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Tests Played | 61 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 307 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 317 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 246 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 159 |
| Wins Batting First | 20 |
| Wins Bowling First | 23 |
| Draws | 18 |
(Source: Cricketwebs)
- Early conditions: The surface tends to offer pace and carry on Day 1, with the first hour usually the best window for seamers before things settle down.
- Middle days: Batting becomes more manageable once the new ball loses its hardness, making Days 2 and 3 the prime scoring period for whichever side builds the bigger first innings.
- Later stages: The sharp drop off in fourth innings scoring, down to an average of just 159, shows how much harder batting gets by Days 4 and 5, with reverse swing and variable bounce becoming bigger factors.
Given how badly Pakistan’s top order has struggled against the new ball at Headingley and Lord’s, another seam friendly start at Edgbaston would once again put the pressure squarely on their batters inside the first session.
(Source: Cricketwebs)
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Points Table and Series Context
With the series already decided, this match carries little bearing on the outcome, though both sides still have World Test Championship points to think about.
| # | Team | M | W | L | N/R | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | England | 15 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 62 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
(Source: ICC)
England sit sixth in the table and Pakistan ninth, so neither result here will move the needle much in the bigger picture. It’s really about individual performances and, for Pakistan, working out who takes this tour forward.
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Recent Form
England go into Edgbaston full of confidence, while Pakistan’s recent results explain exactly why change has arrived so suddenly.
| Team | Last 5 Results (oldest to newest) |
|---|---|
| England | W, L, L, W, W |
| Pakistan | L, L, W, L, L |
(Source: Cricbuzz)
ENG vs PAK Head to Head in Tests
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 94 |
| England Wins | 32 |
| Pakistan Wins | 23 |
| Drawn Matches | 39 |
(Source: Cricbuzz)
For the complete breakdown of this rivalry across venues and eras, see our England vs Pakistan head to head in Tests.
Recent Meetings Between the Sides
| Result | Date |
|---|---|
| England won by 194 runs | 27 Aug 2026 |
| England won by an innings and 103 runs | 19 Aug 2026 |
| Pakistan won by 9 wickets | 24 Oct 2024 |
| Pakistan won by 152 runs | 15 Oct 2024 |
| England won by an innings and 47 runs | 7 Oct 2024 |
(Source: Cricbuzz)
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Team News
England have made one notable call, while Pakistan’s changes stretch far beyond the playing eleven.
- England have dropped Brydon Carse following an incident outside a Derby nightclub during the second Test.
- Ollie Robinson keeps his place after match figures of 8 for 80 at Lord’s, a return that took him past Jasprit Bumrah for the best Test bowling average among bowlers with at least 20 caps since the First World War.
- Pakistan have released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam ul Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the squad.
- Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have both been relieved of their duties mid series.
- Mike Hesson takes interim charge alongside former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke.
(Source: ESPNcricinfo)
Hesson has been direct about what’s driving the overhaul, saying the side needs more balance and variety in its attack after failing to show the pace and mystery spin Pakistan cricket is known for.
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Predicted Playing XI
England are expected to stick largely with the combination that’s dominated this series, while Pakistan’s team bears little resemblance to the one beaten at Lord’s.
England Predicted XI
- Ben Duckett
- Emilio Gay
- Jordan Cox
- Joe Root (captain)
- Harry Brook
- Dan Lawrence
- Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
- Gus Atkinson
- Ollie Robinson
- Jofra Archer
- Shoaib Bashir
Pakistan Predicted XI
- Azan Awais
- Abdullah Shafique
- Saim Ayub
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Saud Shakeel
- Saad Baig (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Imran Randhawa
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Abbas
- Ubaid Shah
(Source: ESPNcricinfo)
Saad Baig, named Player of the Tournament in the 2025-26 Quaid e Azam Trophy, and left arm spinning allrounder Arafat Minhas are among the uncapped names given a chance to state their case for the future.
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Players to Watch and Key Battles
A handful of names carry the bulk of both attacks and batting lineups into this final Test, and a couple of individual contests could shape how it plays out.
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs/Wickets | Average/Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook | ENG | 10 | 715 | 39.72 |
| Joe Root | ENG | 10 | 665 | 36.94 |
| Shan Masood | PAK | 9 | 526 | 29.22 |
| Babar Azam | PAK | 8 | 498 | 35.57 |
| Josh Tongue | ENG | 8 | 39 | 4.08 |
| Jofra Archer | ENG | 7 | 28 | 3.32 |
| Sajid Khan | PAK | 6 | 33 | 3.42 |
| Mohammad Abbas | PAK | 5 | 28 | 2.71 |
(Source: Cricbuzz)
- Ollie Robinson vs Pakistan’s top order: Fresh off match figures of 8 for 80 at Lord’s, Robinson’s control will test a completely reshuffled batting lineup with limited experience together.
- Sajid Khan vs England’s middle order: With Pakistan short on containing seamers after the squad overhaul, Sajid’s off spin may end up carrying more of the workload than usual.
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Live Streaming
UK fans can follow every ball of this Test through Sky Sports, the same broadcaster covering the entire series.
| Broadcast | Details |
|---|---|
| TV | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event |
| Streaming | Sky Go, NOW |
| Radio | BBC Test Match Special |
| Highlights | BBC |
(Source: Sky Sports)
For live scores without a subscription, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz both carry ball by ball text commentary and full scorecards across all five days, and the ICC website hosts the World Test Championship standings if you’re tracking what a result means for both sides’ points percentage.
(Source: ESPNcricinfo)
Why Pakistan’s Youth Movement Makes Sense at Edgbaston
- A dead rubber is the right time to test uncapped players like Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas with little risk.
- Hesson’s call for more balance and variety in the attack is a fair read of what’s been missing.
- The bigger concern is timing: seven players released at once, two coaches removed mid series, and a captaincy situation already in flux.
- Edgbaston may show Pakistan’s future, but stability is what that future actually needs.
Check out the upcoming tour: Pakistan’s series wraps up here, but Sri Lanka are next to visit English shores. See our Sri Lanka tour of England 2026 schedule and ticket details.
While Pakistan search for answers, England’s focus is already shifting toward the winter. Our Ashes 2027 ballot guide and top 10 players with most wickets for England in Tests are worth a look if that’s where your attention is heading.
England Head Into the Winter Having Wrapped Up a Dominant Series Win
England’s 2-0 series lead was built on relentless seam bowling and timely runs from Brook, Cox and Root, and Edgbaston offers little more than a chance to fine tune combinations before the year’s bigger challenges arrive. Pakistan’s wholesale changes make this Test more about the future than the present, with Hesson’s new look side searching for the balance that’s been missing all summer. Whatever happens here, the series result is already settled. Cricket Insider UK will bring you toss news and live updates throughout the five days.
