As the Test summer draws to a close, a period that has felt like a crisis for English cricket, Joe Root's side now faces their last match of the series against Pakistan. The only real debate lingering is whether England should rotate their pace attack or keep the current bowlers playing through the final game. Assuming no further off‑field scandals emerge before the third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday, the focus of the media will remain on Pakistan, who have been making headlines after dismissing their head coach and swapping out seven members of their touring party following defeats at Headingley and Lord's. England have already lost Brydon Carse from their 15‑man squad for the Edgbaston encounter.
The fast bowler was briefly detained after an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August. Matthew Fisher has also been omitted, but the rest of the England contingent were all part of the squad that played at Lord's. Having already secured the series, England have the option of giving some of their cross‑format pacemen a breather before the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka.
If the third Test were to run the full five days, the first T20 International would follow just two days later, with three One‑Day Internationals scheduled for September. One of the most encouraging stories from this summer has been the resurgence of England's revamped pace unit, which now consists of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue. Three of these four bowlers are also members of England's T20 and ODI squads for the Sri Lanka series; only Robinson is currently excluded from the limited‑overs set‑up. Ahead of the announcement of England's final Test XI for the season, Sky Sports have weighed up whether the incumbents should be rested and which alternatives could step in.
Jofra Archer – The West Indian‑born spearhead has enjoyed a promising summer from a fitness perspective, delivering consistently strong performances in four of the five Tests he has played. After a four‑year hiatus from the longest format, Archer returned last summer and has since been a key figure.
Maintaining his freshness will be vital, not just for the remainder of this series but also with an eye on next summer's home Ashes. Archer told the press 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." Those words underline his desire to stay fit, and England would do well to manage his workload carefully. Gus Atkinson – The Surrey paceman has also featured in four of the five Tests this summer, missing only the second Test against New Zealand after being involved in a nightclub incident alongside former captain Ben Stokes.
While Atkinson has not produced spectacular figures against Pakistan—taking just one of the 38 Pakistani wickets that have fallen—he has shown the ability to bowl at a high level. Given that he also features in the white‑ball squads, there is a solid case for giving him another chance against a relatively fragile Pakistani batting line‑up before he returns to Test duties against South Africa in December. Josh Tongue – The Nottinghamshire quick is the only bowler to have featured in all five Tests this summer.
His steady performances, complemented by strong showings in previous series against Australia and India, have made him a likely mainstay under incoming head coach Stephen Fleming. Consistently bowling at speeds around 90 mph is physically demanding, and, much like Archer, Tongue could benefit from a short rest before being called upon for the limited‑overs fixtures. Ollie Robinson – Robinson has been the standout bowler of the series, claiming 16 Pakistani wickets at an astonishing average of 7.18 and an economy of just 2.05. However, injury concerns have interrupted his momentum; knee soreness kept him out of the second Test against New Zealand and he missed the series finale.
As a 32‑year‑old who does not feature in the white‑ball plans, Robinson should seize the opportunity to lead England's attack at Edgbaston and demonstrate that he can endure a full series, especially given the relative dominance his colleagues have shown. Sonny Baker – At just 23, Baker is perhaps the most exciting prospect in England's fast‑bowling pool.
He was called up 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 a tough one, yielding figures of 3‑161 in a loss to New Zealand at The Oval.
Providing him with more Test exposure could be a wise move, as injuries are always a possibility, and his involvement in the white‑ball squads against Sri Lanka also offers additional avenues for development. Sam Cook – Cook, like Baker, has only one Test to his name, a solitary wicket against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May 2025. Nevertheless, he has enjoyed a strong County Championship season, taking 39 wickets in nine matches at an average just above 19.
At 29, he has less time for long‑term development than the younger bowlers, making him a candidate for immediate inclusion to prove his worth. Shoaib Bashir – England's leading spinner, Bashir, will not turn 23 until October 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 any of the five Tests.
He returned this summer, featuring in two Tests against New Zealand, but was left out at Lord's and then posted figures of 3‑147 at Trent Bridge. While a spinner can be useful at Edgbaston, the upcoming Test series in South Africa and the home Ashes next summer may place greater emphasis on pace, potentially reducing the priority of spin options.
In summary, England have a clear series win secured, allowing them the flexibility to either rest key bowlers and preserve them for the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, or to press on with the current attack to give fringe players a taste of Test cricket. The decision will hinge on balancing immediate performance, player welfare, and long‑term planning ahead of the high‑profile contests that lie ahead.