England now face a classic conundrum reminiscent of a Countdown final: they must decide which batsman will lose his place when Jacob Bethell is fit again. The retirement of Ben Stokes and Bethell’s recent knee problem opened doors for Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence in the Test side, and both players have taken advantage of the chance, especially against a Pakistan team that has struggled to find its footing. Although most observers doubt Stokes will stage a comeback – while not ruling it out entirely – Bethell is expected to rejoin the squad for the three‑Test series in South Africa later this winter. His return will create a surplus of top‑order talent, forcing the selectors to make a tough call about who stays and who goes.
Cox and Lawrence have not secured permanent spots yet, and the same uncertainty surrounds opener Emilio Gay. Gay has averaged a modest 23.44 across his first five Tests and has not managed to exceed 33 in his last six innings since two half‑centuries against New Zealand. Their performances will be scrutinised closely as England aim to extend their recent success. England have already dispatched Pakistan with relative ease, clinching their first Test series win since December 2024.
They now hope to complete a 3‑0 sweep at Edgbaston beginning on 9 September. The temptation is to stick with a winning combination, but the return of a player of Bethell’s calibre makes that decision far from straightforward. Bethell, only 22, is widely regarded as a generational talent. In the past year he has piled up centuries for England across all three formats, including a standout ton in the Ashes.
He also contributes useful left‑arm spin and is a superb fielder, traits that suggest he will become a mainstay for years to come, most likely anchoring the innings at the No 3 position. However, his inevitable reintegration does not automatically consign Cox to the sidelines. Cox earned his reputation primarily as a hard‑hitting white‑ball player – he was the MVP of The Hundred in 2025 for the Oval Invincibles – but his first‑class statistics are impressive: more than 4,000 runs in 66 matches at an average of 43.27, including 12 centuries.
In his brief Test career he has shown temperament and technique, registering consecutive fifties against Pakistan at Leeds and Lord’s, each innings coming after early exposure to the new ball. His style is adaptable; he can defend when required and accelerate when the situation demands. At Lord’s he deliberately slowed his tempo after a brisk start, demonstrating the discipline to bat time – a quality the England camp values highly.
The only blemish so far is that he has yet to convert a fifty into a hundred, a milestone that eluded him when he was caught off a spectacular slip catch by Salman Agha in the second Test. If Cox remains a fixture in the side, someone else will have to be displaced – likely Gay, Lawrence or wicket‑keeper Jamie Smith. Cox can also keep wickets, and there was talk before the Pakistan series that he could serve as a backup keeper should Smith struggle with either his batting or glovework, especially after Smith’s difficult Ashes campaign in Australia.
Smith, however, has shown signs of resurgence. His 61 in the first innings marked his second fifty of the summer, and his keeping has been consistently solid, a fact that may be credited in part to former England Women’s keeper Sarah Taylor, now the team’s fielding coach. Lawrence, batting at No 6, has already recorded two half‑centuries against Pakistan. His second knock was a counter‑attacking innings on a bowler‑friendly Lord’s pitch, highlighted by an audacious six over extra‑cover before a modest run‑out for 17.
Lawrence also offers a part‑time off‑spin option, giving England a secondary spin weapon in a line‑up that otherwise relies heavily on pace. One could argue that England might drop Lawrence and let Bethell assume the primary spin role, but retaining both could prove advantageous, especially if new captain Joe Root, who may be reluctant to bowl his own off‑spin, prefers to keep a specialist spinner in the side. Turning to Emilio Gay, his promotion to the international arena has not been a failure, though he appears vulnerable to deliveries that angle across him. He notched a fifty on debut on a treacherous Lord’s surface against New Zealand and followed it with another half‑century at The Oval.
Gay displays elegant stroke‑play, particularly on the off‑side, and can dig in when a bowler gets the upper hand. Unfortunately, he has also suffered some cruel luck.
In the second innings at Lord’s, after settling in for 31, he was given out lbw by an unplayable ball from Mohammad Abbas that clipped the shin‑height pad, a decision that left many feeling sympathy for the young Durham‑born batter. While Gay’s technique is sound, the pressure to produce runs will increase now that Cox and Lawrence are delivering consistently. If Cox is used as an opening option – a role he has performed in county cricket – Gay could find his place under threat and may need a big score at Edgbaston to cement his spot.
Looking ahead, the conclusion of the Pakistan series will usher in the countdown to the South Africa tour, the first assignment for new head coach Stephen Fleming. Fleming will inherit this batting puzzle and will need to decide whether to retain the current combination, gamble on emerging talent, or reshuffle the order to accommodate Bethell’s return. Fans can watch the third Test’s opening day live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 am on Wednesday, 9 September (11 am for the first ball). For those without a Sky subscription, there are streaming options via NOW and various Sky Sports deals.