Pakistan vs England third Test: Last chance to avoid clean sweep
The match is scheduled to begin at 3 pm Pakistan time on Wednesday at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The five-day Test will run until September 13.
England have already secured the three-match series after winning the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, then a 194-run victory at Lord’s.
That makes the final Test important for Pakistan. The team cannot win the series now, but a victory would give players and supporters a positive ending to this series.
England comes with a clear advantage
England enter the final Test with strong confidence after dominating Pakistan in the opening two matches. Their batting has made big scores, while their bowling has put Pakistan under pressure many times in the match.
Captain Joe Root is among the key players in England’s squad, alongside Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence. The bowling group includes Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook and Shoaib Bashir.
The hosts now aim to clean sweep with a solid 3-0 at Edgbaston. Another win would prove their control throughout the series and put further pressure on Pakistan.
Pakistan face a major challenge after team changes
Pakistan’s situation is very different. After two heavy defeats, the team has gone through major changes before the final match.
Pakistan removed several players from the squad and made changes to its coaching setup after the poor results. Former head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were among those who quit their positions.
The changes have created chaos before the third Test. New team must quickly find their form against England that has already shown strong form.
Babar Azam is also under the spotlight after getting a fever during the match. Pakistan team is hopeful about his recovery before the Edgbaston Test.
The Pakistani squad includes Shan Masood, Mohammad Abbas, Sajid Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Imran, Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Ali, Ghazi Ghori and Azan Awais.
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One last chance for Pakistan
The third Test will be played at Edgbaston, one of England’s famous cricket grounds. The weather is expected to stay at 15°C during the match, meaning teams have another chance for smooth bowling and efficient batting.
Pakistan will need a stronger start with the batting as early wickets have been a major problem in the series but on the other hand the bowlers will also have a big responsibility as Pakistan need to take wickets regularly rather than letting England top the score.
What is at stake for both teams?
For Pakistan, a win could provide desperately needed confidence after two disappointing performances. It could also give the team a stronger starting point for next test matches.
For England, victory would complete a clean 3-0 sweep. It would also declare the match completely one sided.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s schedule confirms that the third Test will be played at Edgbaston from September 9 to 13, with all three Tests in the series beginning at 3 pm Pakistan time.
