England are edging ever closer to a crushing series whitewash of 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. The modest total at stumps actually marked a modest recovery for Pakistan, whose situation looked even bleaker when the dark clouds gathered and they were reduced to 0 for 2 in Ollie Robinson's opening over.
Robinson, who finished the spell with figures of 2 for 10, began by dismissing opener Saim Ayub on the very first ball. Ayub, one of four players rushed into the side after seven members were sent home from the touring party, was out for a duck. Just three deliveries later, Abdullah Shafique fell to a catch at slip, also for zero. These early blows set the tone for what would become a relentless English attack.
Robinson’s impact this summer has been extraordinary. In just four Test matches he has taken 28 wickets at an astonishing average of 7.75, and in this series his average improves even further to 6.66. His spell not only rattled the Pakistani batting line‑up but also boosted his own standing in the record books. Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root’s sharp catch at slip to dismiss Shafique moved him ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith, placing him at 220 catches – the highest tally for a non‑wicket‑keeper in Test cricket.
Unlike the first innings, the second innings saw fewer quick dismissals. Azan Awais (29 not out) and Shan Masood (21 not out) managed to forge a small partnership, offering a brief respite before the rain intervened. Masood, however, was later caught for 13 by Ben Duckett, the third English bowler to claim a wicket in the match, after a mis‑fired delivery from Gus Atkinson.
The statistical summary of the match reads as follows: - Pakistan 1st innings: 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 1st innings: 453 all out in 89 overs – Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50; Pakistani bowler Razaullah 4‑148. - Pakistan 2nd innings (so far): 52‑2 after 12.4 overs, still 268 runs behind; Azan Awais 29 not out, Shan Masood 21 not out; Ollie Robinson 2‑10. Earlier in the game England were dismissed for 452, securing a massive 320‑run first‑innings lead thanks to half‑centuries from Dan Lawrence (65), Jamie Smith (69) and Ollie Robinson (50), complementing the contributions of Emilio Gay (60) and Harry Brook (75) on day one.
Brook added 23 runs to his overnight tally before becoming the first wicket to fall on the second morning. His dismissal came as he attempted a risky single to mid‑wicket, a run that Shan Masood completed with a direct hit, effectively running Brook out.
The innings continued to flow as Smith joined Lawrence at the crease. The pair stitched together a 64‑run partnership before Lawrence was bowled, mis‑timing a pull shot off Mohammad Imran (2‑47) and being caught behind just before lunch.
Smith then reached his own fifty, doing so off 54 balls, but was unable to convert it into a bigger score. After a brief cameo from Gus Atkinson, who was bowled by a clean delivery from Imran, Smith edged a ball to the fiery Pakistani bowler Razaullah, who claimed his fourth wicket of the match. Smith later left the field for a period as Jordan Cox took over wicket‑keeping duties, allowing the regular keeper to recover from a finger injury sustained on day one.
Meanwhile, Robinson, who notched his second Test half‑century, and Jofra Archer, who contributed a quick 32 not out, kept the run rate healthy, pushing England’s total well beyond the 400‑run mark and cementing a lead of more than 300 runs before the innings was finally wrapped up. Pakistan’s tentative approach continued into the second innings. After Robinson’s double strike in the very first over, the hosts seemed poised for a rapid two‑day finish, but the resilience shown by Azan Awais and Shan Masood, coupled with the interruption from rain, prevented an outright collapse.
Dan Lawrence expressed disappointment at missing out on his maiden Test century. The 29‑year‑old, who had previously scored 51 at Headingley and 54 at Lord’s in this series, said, "I’m obviously gutted that I didn’t convert and make a big score, but I’m pretty happy with my overall performance. I felt I was playing well on a good surface against a tiring attack. I thought I would make a big score, but it wasn’t meant to be.
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 undeniably been the star of the series, boasting 21 wickets at an eye‑watering average of 6.66.
When he dismissed Shafique for the fifth time in six innings, his average against the Pakistani batsman stood at a minuscule 6.19. England slip fielder Dan Lawrence admitted that the fielding unit must stay on high alert whenever Robinson is bowling, noting, "When he bowls, he hits the same spot almost every ball, and you can feel the game shifting. The wickets have been generous to us and the seamers, and you certainly feel the momentum when you have someone at the peak of his powers." Sky Sports analyst Nasser Hussain was critical of Pakistan’s selection policies, particularly the inclusion of Saim Ayub. Hussain argued, "Ayub shouldn’t be in the side.
He came from the Caribbean Premier League and hasn’t played first‑class cricket in eleven months. It’s disrespectful to Test cricket to fly a player over from foreign conditions and expect him to cope with a Duke ball and Ollie Robinson’s pace. The players who are here have seen their teammates sent home, five‑fors have been axed, and morale is low." He added, "How you treat players is crucial. When you hand out a Test cap, you expect players to uphold the core values of representing Pakistan, but the board must also look after them.
Sending seven players home between Tests sends a message that the team doesn’t care for its members, leading to a lack of unity. This side looks resigned, doing whatever comes their way, and appears to be looking out for themselves rather than the collective." The third Test continues on day three, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Friday. For viewers without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports deals or the NOW streaming service offer contract‑free options to watch all the action.