As the Test season draws to a close, a period that has felt almost like a crisis for English cricket, Joe Root's side approaches the last match against Pakistan with one clear question dominating the conversation: should the bowling unit be rotated? Aside from any potential off‑field drama that might surface before the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday, the real buzz is coming from the opposition. Pakistan have been making headlines after they dismissed their head coach and replaced seven members of the touring party following defeats at Headingley and Lord's. Fast‑bowler Brydon Carse remains missing from England's 15‑man squad for the Edgbaston encounter after a brief arrest following an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August.
Fellow quick Matthew Fisher has also been left out, but the remaining bowlers were all part of the squad at Lord's in the previous match. Having already secured the series, England now 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 last the full five days, the first of a three‑match T20 International series would begin just two days later, followed by three 50‑over games later in September. One of the most encouraging take‑aways from the series so far has been the emergence of a refreshed pace attack comprising Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue.
Three of the four are also named in England's T20 and ODI squads for the Sri Lanka tour, with only Robinson currently excluded from the limited‑overs plans. Ahead of the announcement of England's final Test XI of the summer, Sky Sports weighed up whether the incumbent bowlers should be rested and which alternatives could step in. Jofra Archer – The West‑Indies‑born star has enjoyed a promising summer in terms of fitness, delivering consistently high‑quality spells in four of the five Tests he has featured in.
After a four‑year hiatus from the longest format, Archer returned last summer and has since been a mainstay. Maintaining his freshness will be crucial, especially with the home Ashes on the horizon next year.
Archer told the media 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, his place in any England XI is virtually guaranteed when fit, so the priority should be preserving his condition for the future. Gus Atkinson – The Surrey quick 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.
Against Pakistan, Atkinson has not been particularly rewarding, claiming just one of the 38 Pakistani wickets taken across the two matches. Nevertheless, he is part of the white‑ball set‑up and could be given another chance to exploit Pakistan's relatively fragile batting line‑up before the team turns its attention to the South African series in December. Josh Tongue – The Nottinghamshire fast bowler is the only member of the attack to have played every Test this summer. His steady performances, coupled with strong showings in earlier series against Australia and India, have made him a near‑automatic selection for incoming head coach Stephen Fleming.
Consistently bowling in the 90‑mph range is demanding, and, like Archer, Tongue would benefit from a short rest before being called upon for the limited‑overs fixtures. Ollie Robinson – Undoubtedly the standout of the series, Robinson has taken 16 wickets at an astonishing average of 7.18 and an economy of just 2.05.
However, his momentum was interrupted by knee soreness after a brilliant debut against New Zealand in June, which forced him out of the following match and saw him omitted from the series finale. As a 32‑year‑old who is not part of the white‑ball plans, Robinson has a prime opportunity to lead England's attack at Edgbaston and demonstrate that he can endure a full series, especially given the bowling unit's overall dominance. Sonny Baker – At just 23, Baker is perhaps the most exciting prospect in England's fast‑bowling pool.
He was called into the squad for the second Test at Lord's after Carse's off‑field issues and retained over Fisher, indicating he impressed in the nets. His debut came under pressure during the second Test against New Zealand, where he recorded match figures of 3‑161 in a loss at The Oval.
Providing him with more Test experience at Edgbaston could be a shrewd move, especially as injuries are always a possibility. Moreover, Baker is also part of the white‑ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour, offering additional avenues for his development. Sam Cook – Like Baker, Cook has only one Test to his name, and it was far from spectacular.
The Essex paceman managed a solitary wicket in England's victory over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May 2025. Yet his recent County Championship form has been impressive, with 39 wickets in nine matches at an average just above 19.
At 29, he has less developmental runway than the teenage Baker, making him a more immediate option. Granting him another chance in the Edgbaston Test could help England assess his suitability for future selections.
Shoaib Bashir – England's leading spinner is still under 23 and has already experienced a roller‑coaster international career. Fast‑tracked into the side by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in 2024, Bashir was earmarked for the Australian tour last winter but never featured in any of the five Tests. He returned this summer, playing two Tests against New Zealand, and delivered figures of 3‑147 at Trent Bridge. While a spinner can be useful at Edgbaston, the upcoming South African series and the home Ashes next summer may not demand spin heavily, prompting the selectors to prioritize pace options.
In summary, England faces a delicate balancing act. The series win affords them the luxury of rotating some of their frontline bowlers to preserve fitness for the looming white‑ball contests, yet the quality and form of the current attack—especially the exceptional performances of Robinson and the reliability of Archer and Tongue—make a strong case for fielding the strongest possible XI.
The decision will hinge on how much weight the coaching staff places on immediate dominance versus long‑term player management ahead of a packed international calendar.