Brydon Carse and Matthew Fisher have both been excluded from England's 15‑man squad for the third and decisive Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. England are aiming for a clean 3‑0 series victory, with the matches being broadcast live on Sky Sports from September 9 to 13.
The team already enjoyed a dominant performance at Headingley, where they won by an innings and 103 runs, and followed that up with a 194‑run triumph 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 place, right‑arm paceman Sonny Baker has retained his spot in Joe Root's side, while Fisher has been left out after not featuring in the first two Tests.
The Durham club also omitted Carse from its County Championship match against Northamptonshire, which began on Wednesday, citing "pre‑arranged workload management" despite Carse having recorded impressive figures of 4‑95 in the previous victory over Gloucestershire. England captain Joe Root spoke at Lord's last week, expressing frustration at 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." 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 making unnecessary rotations. This approach suggests that Baker and Sam Cook may remain on the bench unless the management decides to rest any of the in‑form pace quartet of Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
Pakistan's relatively inexperienced side has struggled to post competitive totals, being dismissed for under 200 in each of the four innings so far and only managing to bat beyond the 50‑over mark once. The relentless accuracy of Ollie Robinson, who claimed 8‑35 in the second Test, has been a key factor, complemented by the steady contributions of England's other seamers. The current England 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). On the Pakistani side, seven players and two coaches have been dropped following the series defeat.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam‑ul‑Haq (who was injured 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, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have been released from the backroom staff, to be replaced by Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
Seven new faces have been called up, including five uncapped Test players. Batsmen Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal bring eight and two Test appearances respectively, while left‑arm spin‑bowling all‑rounder Arafat Minhas, who has represented Pakistan in limited‑overs cricket, joins the squad. The reinforcements also feature left‑arm paceman Mohammad Imran Jnr, wicket‑keeper‑batter Saad Baig and pace‑bowling all‑rounders Mohammad Imran (also known as Imran Randhawa) and Razaullah. The updated Pakistan Test squad for Edgbaston reads: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket‑keeper), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicket‑keeper), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
Fans can watch day one of the third Test live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with the first ball scheduled for 11 a.m. BST on Wednesday, September 9.
Those without a Sky subscription can explore streaming options via NOW or check the latest Sky Sports deals for contract‑free access. Overall, England are poised to complete a historic sweep, while Pakistan will be looking to regroup and introduce fresh talent in hopes of salvaging some pride from the series. The upcoming match promises high‑intensity cricket, with both sides eager to finish the tour on a strong note.