Joe Root won the toss and chose to field as England faced a dramatically reshaped Pakistan side in the final Test at Edgbaston.
England elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the third and final Test at Edgbaston after captain Joe Root won the toss. England entered the match with an unassailable 2-0 lead, while Pakistan arrived with a dramatically reshaped squad following the sweeping changes made after the second Test at Lord’s.
England made no changes to the side that produced a convincing 194-run victory in the second Test. The hosts therefore went into the final match with a settled combination and considerable confidence after dominating Pakistan in the opening two games.
Pakistan’s lineup looked very different. The PCB had sent seven players home following the Lord’s defeat and brought replacements into the squad. Four changes were ultimately made to the playing XI, including the introduction of wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori, all-rounder Mohammad Imran Randhawa and fast bowler Razaullah, all of whom made their Test debuts.
The Pakistan camp was also dealing with a coaching change. Sarfaraz Ahmed had been removed as Test head coach, while Umar Gul was also dismissed from his role. White-ball coach Mike Hesson was brought in to oversee the Test side and help guide the reshaped group through the final match.
Saim Ayub returned to the XI in place of Imam-ul-Haq, who was unable to bat in either innings at Lord’s after suffering a calf strain. Pakistan’s selection therefore reflected both the injuries and the sweeping personnel changes that had taken place during the tour.
England’s decision to bowl first was influenced by the conditions at Edgbaston. Root noted that the overcast weather could provide assistance to the pace attack, giving England an opportunity to exploit movement early in the innings. With Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer leading the bowling attack, Pakistan faced an immediate examination.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam acknowledged the noise surrounding the team but said the players were focused on preparing for the match. He also praised Hesson for helping the team during the difficult period and said communication within the group had been good.
The match represented Pakistan’s final opportunity to avoid a series whitewash. England had already secured the series after winning the first two Tests, while Pakistan were looking for a performance capable of restoring some confidence following an extraordinary period of instability.
#EnglandVsPakistan #PakistanCricket #EnglandCricket #ThirdTest #Edgbaston #TestCricket #BabarAzam #CricketNews #Howzzat
