As the English summer of Test cricket draws to a close, a series that has often felt like a crisis for England’s side now heads into its final encounter with Pakistan. The dominant storyline is no longer about the team’s form or tactics, but rather whether the selectors should give some of their frontline bowlers a rest before the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka.
Assuming no further off‑field drama erupts before the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday, the focus shifts to Pakistan, who have been making headlines after dismissing their head coach and reshuffling seven members of their touring party following defeats at Headingley and Lord's. England, on the other hand, have largely stayed out of the spotlight, apart from a few personnel issues.
Fast‑bowler Brydon Carse remains missing from England’s 15‑man squad for the Edgbaston match after a brief arrest outside a Derby nightclub in August. Fellow quick Matthew Fisher was also dropped, but the rest of the pace contingent were all involved in the Lord's victory.
With the series already secured, England now have the option of resting some of their cross‑format bowlers before the white‑ball series that begins just two days after the Test, with a three‑match T20 series followed by three ODIs later in September. The most encouraging development of the tour has been the emergence of a refreshed pace attack comprising Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue. Three of these four are also part of England’s T20 and ODI squads for the Sri Lanka series; only Robinson is currently excluded from the limited‑overs set‑up.
Sky Sports has asked whether any of these bowlers should be rested for the final Test and which fringe players could step in. **Jofra Archer** – The West‑Indies‑born star has enjoyed a surprisingly healthy summer, featuring in four of the five Tests and delivering consistently high‑quality performances. After a four‑year hiatus from Test cricket, Archer’s fitness is a precious commodity, and England would be prudent to preserve his freshness for the home Ashes next year. Archer himself said on Monday, “My body is in a good place, the team is in a good place, and everyone is in a good place.
I just want to play cricket.” While his words are reassuring, the reality is that a fit Archer is an automatic selection for any England XI, and the priority should be keeping him in that condition. **Gus Atkinson** – The Surrey paceman has also featured in four Tests, missing only the second match against New Zealand after a nightclub incident that also involved former captain Ben Stokes. Against Pakistan, Atkinson has not taken many wickets – just one of the 38 Pakistani dismissals across the two games – but his figures have not been disastrous. Given that he also plays white‑ball cricket, there is a strong case for giving him another spell against a relatively fragile Pakistani batting line‑up before he returns to the limited‑overs schedule.
**Josh Tongue** – The Nottinghamshire quick is the only member of the attack to have played all five Tests this summer. His consistent displays, coupled with strong showings in previous series against Australia and India, have made him a near‑irreplaceable asset for incoming head coach Stephen Fleming.
Maintaining a pace bowler who can regularly bowl at around 90 mph is taxing, and, like Archer, Tongue could benefit from a short break before the white‑ball commitments. **Ollie Robinson** – Undoubtedly the standout bowler of the series, Robinson has claimed 16 Pakistani wickets at an astonishing average of 7.18 and an economy of just 2.05. Injuries have interrupted his momentum before – knee soreness forced him out of a Test against New Zealand in June – but he has returned to dominate the Pakistani innings. As a specialist Test bowler not involved in the limited‑overs squads, Robinson should be encouraged to lead the attack at Edgbaston and prove his durability over a full series.
**Sonny Baker** – At just 23, Baker is one of the most exciting prospects in England’s pace pool. He was drafted into the squad for the second Test at Lord’s after Carse’s off‑field issues and retained over Fisher, suggesting he impressed in the nets.
His debut was tough – he recorded match figures of 3‑161 in a loss to New Zealand – but the experience could be invaluable. Giving Baker a few overs in the final Test would help him gain confidence and provide the selectors with a clearer picture of his readiness for future assignments, especially since he is also in the white‑ball squads for Sri Lanka. **Sam Cook** – Like Baker, Cook has only one Test to his name, a modest showing in which he took a single wicket against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May 2025.
However, his County Championship form has been impressive, with 39 wickets in nine matches at an average just above 19. At 29, Cook has less developmental runway than the teenage Baker, but his recent domestic success makes a strong case for another chance at the international level. **Shoaib Bashir** – England’s leading spinner, Bashir, is still under 23 but has already experienced a roller‑coaster international career. Fast‑tracked into the side by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in 2024, he was earmarked for the Australia tour but did not play a single Test.
He returned this summer for two Tests against New Zealand, missing Lord’s but delivering 3‑147 at Trent Bridge. While spin can be useful at Edgbaston, the upcoming Test series in South Africa and the home Ashes against Australia may not demand a heavy spin emphasis, meaning pace options could take priority. In summary, England’s pace attack has performed admirably, but the decision to rotate bowlers hinges on balancing short‑term series objectives with long‑term player welfare. Resting Archer and Tongue could preserve their fitness for the Ashes, while giving Atkinson, Baker or Cook a few overs would reward emerging talent and provide depth.
Robinson, as the series’ star, should lead the charge, and Bashir’s role can be evaluated based on the pitch conditions. The final Test will not only decide the series outcome but also shape England’s bowling strategy heading into the white‑ball contests and the crucial tours that follow.