England are on the brink of delivering the most decisive series whitewash against Pakistan after they skittled the visitors to 52 for 2, still trailing by 268 runs, when rain forced an early end to play on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Pakistan’s overnight total, though modest, actually marked a small revival after their situation looked even bleaker than the gathering clouds when they slumped to 0 for 2 in Ollie Robinson’s opening over. Robinson, who finished the spell with figures of two wickets for ten runs, dismissed opener Saim Ayub on the very first ball – the young batsman, one of four newcomers rushed into the side after seven players were sent home from the touring party, was out for a pair – and then, three balls later, saw Abdullah Shafique caught behind.
Robinson’s haul now stands at 28 wickets in just four Tests this summer, an astonishing average of 7.75 runs per wicket. In the context of this particular series his average is even more impressive, sitting at 6.66. His consistency has turned him into the spearhead of England’s attack and a constant threat to the Pakistani batting line‑up.
Meanwhile, Joe Root’s sharp catch at slip to dismiss Shafique nudged him ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith, taking his personal tally to 220 catches – the most ever recorded by a Test outfielder. The fielding brilliance complemented the bowling dominance, although the wicket‑taking frenzy that characterised Pakistan’s first innings did not repeat in the second.
In the first innings, after the early loss of two wickets, Azan Awais (29 not out) and Shan Masood (21 not out) managed to forge a modest partnership of fifty runs before the rain intervened. Masood, however, was soon dismissed for 13 by Ben Duckett, who claimed his third wicket of the match, capitalising on a mis‑field by Gus Atkinson. The full first‑innings scorecards read as follows: Pakistan 133 all out in 33.5 overs – top scores: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25.
England 453 all out in 89 overs – top scores: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50; Pakistan bowler: Razaullah 4‑148. In the second innings, Pakistan were precariously placed at 52 for 2 after 12.4 overs, still 268 runs behind the English total, with Awais and Masood again unbeaten at 29 and 21 respectively, while Robinson continued his on‑fire spell with two more wickets for ten runs. Earlier in the match England had been dismissed for 452, establishing a massive 320‑run lead. The first‑day batting effort saw Dan Lawrence (65), Jamie Smith (69) and Ollie Robinson (50) join Emilio Gay (60) and Harry Brook (75) in reaching half‑centuries, setting a solid platform.
Brook added a quick 23 runs to his overnight score before falling as the first wicket on the second morning. His dismissal came after a daring single attempt to mid‑wicket, which Shan Masood completed with a direct hit, effectively running Brook out. The early burst of 73 runs in the first ten overs of day two, driven by Brook and Lawrence’s rapid 47‑ball fifty, seemed to have shaken Pakistan’s confidence. The momentum continued when Smith partnered with Lawrence, adding 64 runs together before Lawrence was bowled after a mistimed shot off Mohammad Imran (2‑47) just before lunch.
Smith soon reached his own fifty, scoring 54 off 54 balls, but could not convert it into a bigger innings. A wicket fell when Gus Atkinson was clean bowled by a delivery from Imran, and Smith later edged a ball to the fiery Razaullah, who claimed his fourth wicket of the match.
Smith’s day was cut short when he had to leave the field due to a finger injury sustained on day one; Jordan Cox took over wicket‑keeping duties. Robinson, meanwhile, celebrated his second Test half‑century, and Jofra Archer (32 not out) added valuable runs lower down the order, frequently finding the boundary and helping England push their total well beyond the 400‑run mark, cementing a lead of more than 300 runs before the innings concluded. Pakistan’s tentative fielding continued into their second innings, and after Robinson’s double strike in the very first over, a two‑day finish seemed possible. However, resilience from Azan Awais and Shan Masood, who steadied the ship with modest contributions, combined with the onset of rain, halted any rapid conclusion.
Dan Lawrence expressed his disappointment at missing out on a maiden Test century. The 29‑year‑old, who had previously made 51 at Headingley and 54 at Lord’s in the series, said: "I'm obviously gutted that I didn't push on and make a really big score, but I'm pretty happy with how I performed overall. I felt I was playing very well on a good batting surface against a tiring attack. I thought I would go on to make a big innings, but it just didn’t happen.
I've missed out on two chances to make big scores – at Headingley and here – but I’m satisfied with three fifties in four innings in this series. If someone had offered me 65 at the start of the day, I would have taken it." Robinson has been the standout bowler of the series, claiming 21 wickets at an astonishing average of 6.66.
When he dismissed Shafique for the fifth time in six innings, his average against the Pakistani batsman was an even tighter 6.19. England slip fielder Dan Lawrence admitted that the fielding unit must stay on high alert whenever Robinson is operating, noting that the bowler’s consistency in hitting the same spot each delivery makes the game feel almost predetermined. Lawrence added: "When he’s bowling, when he’s targeting the same area almost every ball, you always feel the pressure. The wickets have been generous to us and to all the seamers.
You certainly feel the game behind the stumps, especially when you have someone at the peak of his powers." Sky Sports analyst Nasser Hussain was critical of Pakistan’s selection policy, particularly highlighting Saim Ayub’s struggles. He remarked: "The truth is he shouldn’t be here.
He came from the Caribbean Premier League and hasn’t played first‑class cricket in eleven months. I don’t understand who thinks it’s sensible to fly someone over from foreign conditions and expect them to cope with a Duke ball and Ollie Robinson’s pace. It shows a lack of respect for Test cricket." Hussain also pointed out the broader issues within the Pakistani camp, noting that seven players were sent home after the first Test, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty.
He said: "How you treat players is crucial. It’s a two‑way relationship when a player receives a Test cap – they must embody the core values of representing Pakistan, but the board must also look after them. Sending seven players home mid‑series sends a message that the team looks after itself first. This side appears to have adopted a ‘what will be, will be’ attitude, focusing only on self‑preservation." The third Test continues on day three, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 a.m.
on Friday. For viewers without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports deals or the NOW streaming service offer contract‑free options to watch the match.