Brydon Carse and Matthew Fisher have both been excluded from England's 15‑man roster for the third and decisive Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. England are aiming for a clean‑sheet 3‑0 series triumph, with the matches being broadcast live from September 9 to 13 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 win at Lord's. Carse was removed from the squad for the second Test after the Cricket Regulator launched 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, while right‑arm paceman Sonny Baker has retained his place in Joe Root's side as Carse's replacement.
Fisher, on the other hand, has been omitted after not featuring in either of the first two Tests. The Durham franchise also left Carse out of their County Championship fixture 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 underscores the delicate balance teams must strike between player availability and disciplinary considerations. Speaking at Lord's last week, England captain Joe Root admitted he was "hacked off" by the growing number of alcohol‑related stories surrounding the squad.
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 highlighted the human side of the controversy and his empathy for a teammate facing personal difficulties.
England's interim head coach Marcus Trescothick has signalled a clear preference for fielding his strongest possible XI in pursuit of a 3‑0 whitewash, rather than rotating players. Consequently, Baker and Sam Cook may remain on the bench unless the coaching staff decide to rest any of the in‑form pace quartet comprising Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
The Pakistani side, still relatively inexperienced, have been dismissed for under 200 runs in each of the four innings so far and have only once batted beyond the 50‑over mark. The relentless accuracy of Ollie Robinson, who finished the second Test with match figures of 8‑35, has been a key factor, supported admirably by the other English seamers. The current England squad lists 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). This group reflects a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, all focused on maintaining the momentum that has carried England to a commanding series lead.
On the opposite side, Pakistan have undertaken a substantial reshuffle, dropping seven players and two coaches following their series defeat. 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. In addition, senior figures Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul have been released from the backroom staff, with Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke stepping in as replacements.
Seven new faces have been called up to the Pakistani squad, 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 already featured in Pakistan's white‑ball teams, adds variety to the attack. Other additions include left‑arm fast bowler 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 lineup 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 third Test at Edgbaston promises to be a decisive encounter.
England will look to seal a historic 3‑0 sweep, while Pakistan will aim to salvage pride and possibly turn the tide with fresh personnel. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 am on Wednesday, September 9 (the first ball at 11 am), or stream the action via NOW for those without a Sky subscription. All matches will be available live on Sky Sports, and the Sky Sports app offers additional features such as live scores, podcasts and video highlights.
In summary, the exclusion of Carse and Fisher reflects both disciplinary action and strategic selection ahead of a crucial final Test. England's leadership, from Root to Trescothick, is focused on maintaining a stable, high‑performing unit, while Pakistan's extensive changes signal a desire to inject new energy and address the shortcomings that have plagued their batting line‑up. The stage is set for an intense showdown at Edgbaston, with both sides eager to finish the series on a high note.