As the Test summer draws to a close, a period that has seen English cricket appear to be in a state of flux, Joe Root's side now faces their last encounter of the series against Pakistan. The primary discussion point revolves around whether England should rotate members of their pace attack or continue to press forward with the same bowlers for the final match. Assuming no further off‑field controversies emerge before the third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday, the spotlight will remain on Pakistan, who have been generating headlines after dismissing their head coach and swapping out seven players from their touring party following defeats at Headingley and Lord's. While England have had their own share of drama, the most notable absence in the 15‑man squad for the Edgbaston Test is Brydon Carse, who was briefly detained after an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August.
Fellow quick Matthew Fisher has also been omitted, but the remaining fast bowlers were all part of the Lord's squad. With the series already secured, England have the luxury of resting some of their cross‑format pacemen before the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka.
The schedule is tight: if the third Test runs the full five days, the first of three T20 Internationals follows just two days later, with a trio of 50‑over matches slated for September. This congested calendar makes squad rotation a sensible option, especially for those who feature in both the Test and limited‑overs formats. One of the most encouraging narratives of the tour has been the emergence of a refreshed pace unit comprising Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue.
Three of these four bowlers – Archer, Atkinson and Tongue – are also named in England's T20 and ODI squads for the Sri Lankan series, with Robinson being the sole specialist who is not currently involved in the white‑ball set‑up. As Sky Sports prepares to reveal England's final Test XI of the summer, they weigh the arguments for giving the incumbents a breather against the case for keeping the most in‑form bowlers on the field. Jofra Archer has enjoyed a promising summer from a fitness perspective, delivering consistently high‑quality performances in four of the five Tests he has played.
After a four‑year hiatus from Test cricket that ended last summer, the 31‑year‑old’s return has been a major boost for England. Maintaining his physical condition will be crucial, not only for the remainder of this series but also with an eye on the home Ashes next year. Archer himself has said, "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 confidence is reassuring, England would do well to manage his workload to preserve his freshness for future challenges. Gus Atkinson, the Surrey quick, has also featured in four of the five Tests so far.
He missed the second Test against New Zealand after being involved in a nightclub incident alongside former captain Ben Stokes. Although Atkinson has not produced eye‑catching figures against Pakistan – claiming only one wicket of the 38 that have fallen across the two matches – his pace and ability to swing the ball remain valuable assets. Given his role in the white‑ball squads, there is a strong case for giving him another opportunity in the final Test to exploit Pakistan’s relatively fragile batting line‑up before he returns to the limited‑overs schedule. Josh Tongue, representing Nottinghamshire, is the only bowler to have played in all five Tests this summer.
His steady performances, coupled with strong showings in earlier series against Australia and India, have made him a mainstay in the side and a likely favorite of incoming head coach Stephen Fleming. Consistently bowling at speeds around 90 mph is physically demanding, and, much like Archer, Tongue could benefit from a brief rest before being called upon for the upcoming white‑ball fixtures.
Ollie Robinson has arguably been the star of the series, having taken 16 Pakistani wickets at an astonishing average of 7.18 and an economy rate of just 2.05. His momentum was briefly interrupted by knee soreness after a brilliant debut against New Zealand in June, which forced him out of the following match and saw him miss the series finale. As a 32‑year‑old who does not feature in England’s limited‑overs plans, Robinson has a prime opportunity to lead the attack at Edgbaston and demonstrate his durability over a full series. Among the younger prospects, Sonny Baker stands out.
At just 23, he was drafted into the squad for the second Test at Lord's after Carse’s off‑field issues, and his retention over Fisher suggests he impressed the coaching staff during net sessions. Baker’s debut was challenging – he recorded match figures of 3‑161 in a loss to New Zealand at The Oval – but gaining further Test experience at Edgbaston could accelerate his development and boost his confidence. Since he is also part of the white‑ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour, England could manage his workload across formats.
Sam Cook, another relatively inexperienced paceman, has only one Test to his name, a modest return of a single wicket in a victory over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May 2025. However, his recent County Championship form has been impressive, with 39 wickets in nine matches at an average just above 19. At 29, Cook may have less developmental runway than Baker, but his strong domestic performances make a compelling case for giving him another chance at the highest level this week.
On the spin front, Shoaib Bashir, England’s leading spinner, is yet to turn 23. Fast‑tracked into the side by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in 2024, Bashir was originally earmarked for the Australian tour but did not feature in any of the five Tests. He returned to the squad this summer, playing two Tests against New Zealand, and posted figures of 3‑147 at Trent Bridge. While spin can be useful at Edgbaston, England’s upcoming Test series in South Africa and the home Ashes against Australia may place a greater emphasis on pace, potentially reducing the priority of a specialist spinner.
In summary, England face a strategic decision: rotate their fast bowlers to preserve fitness for the looming white‑ball series, or retain the most effective combination to finish the Pakistan series on a high note. Balancing the need for rest with the desire to maintain momentum will be key, and the final XI selection will reflect how the coaching staff values short‑term results versus long‑term player welfare. Watch day one of England's third Test against Pakistan, from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 am on Wednesday, September 9 (first ball 11 am). Not subscribed to Sky?
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