Brydon Carse and Matthew Fisher have both been excluded from England's 15‑man squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. England are aiming for a clean‑sweep of the series, with the final match scheduled for September 9‑13 and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The hosts have already dominated the series, crushing the visitors by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before securing a 194‑run victory at Lord's.
Carse was removed from the squad for the second Test after the Cricket Regulator opened an investigation into an incident that saw the Durham bowler briefly detained outside a Derby nightclub on August 22. Derbyshire Police are now probing "allegations of assault" involving the 31‑year‑old. In Carse's stead, right‑arm paceman Sonny Baker has retained his place in Joe Root's squad, while Fisher has been left out after not featuring in the first two Tests. The Durham side also omitted Carse from its County Championship lineup against Northamptonshire, which began on Wednesday, citing "pre‑arranged workload management" despite his impressive figures of 4‑95 in the previous win over Gloucestershire.
The decision reflects the broader context of disciplinary concerns and the need to balance player workloads across formats. Speaking at Lord's last week, England captain Joe Root admitted that he was "fed up" with the growing number of alcohol‑related stories surrounding the team. He said, "I've spoken to Brydon and when I first found out my first concern was him as a person.
I don't think I'm speaking out of turn in saying he's very upset, very apologetic and understands his actions. I'm sure when he gets his chance, he will say that himself." Root's comments underscored the personal impact of the incident on Carse and highlighted the captain's role in managing team morale amid off‑field distractions. Interim head coach Marcus Trescothick has made it clear that his priority is to field the strongest possible XI in pursuit of a 3‑0 whitewash, rather than rotating players unnecessarily. This approach suggests that Baker and Sam Cook may continue to sit on the bench unless the coaching staff decides to rest any of the in‑form fast‑bowling quartet of Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
Pakistan's inexperienced batting line‑up has struggled, being dismissed for under 200 runs in each of the first four innings and only managing to bat beyond the 50‑over mark once. Ollie Robinson's relentless accuracy was a key factor, as he finished the second Test with match figures of 8‑35, a performance backed up by his seam‑bowling partners.
England's current squad for the Edgbaston Test includes: Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Emilio Gay (Durham), Dan Lawrence (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Jamie Smith (Surrey) and Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire). The selection reflects a blend of experience and emerging talent, with the coaching staff keen to maintain momentum while managing any lingering disciplinary issues.
On the Pakistani side, the board has made sweeping changes following the series defeat. Seven players and two coaches have been dropped from the touring party ahead of the final Test. Mohammad Rizwan, Imam‑ul‑Haq (who suffered an injury during the second Test at Lord's), Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have all been sent home. Additionally, senior figures Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have been released from their roles, to be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke in the backroom staff.
Pakistan have called up seven replacements, including five players who have yet to earn a Test cap. Among the newcomers are batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have already made eight and two Test appearances respectively. Left‑arm spin‑bowling all‑rounder Arafat Minhas, who has represented Pakistan in limited‑overs cricket, joins the squad alongside left‑arm pacer Mohammad Imran Jr., wicket‑keeper‑batter Saad Baig and pace‑bowling all‑rounders Mohammad Imran (also known as Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah.
The revised Pakistan Test squad for Edgbaston now reads: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jr., Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket‑keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicket‑keeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah. The final Test promises to be a decisive encounter, with England seeking to seal a 3‑0 series whitewash and Pakistan looking to salvage pride after a dominant display by the hosts. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event for live coverage starting at 10 am on Wednesday, September 9 (first ball at 11 am).
For those without a Sky subscription, streaming options are available through NOW, offering contract‑free access to the match. Overall, the exclusion of Carse and Fisher underscores the importance England places on discipline and performance as they chase a historic series sweep.
The team's leadership, from Root to Trescothick, appears focused on maintaining a strong, cohesive unit on the field while addressing any off‑field issues swiftly. Meanwhile, Pakistan's extensive reshuffle highlights their determination to refresh the squad and remain competitive, even as they head into a challenging final Test at Edgbaston.