Pakistan vs England 3rd Test: Can Babar Azam Stop the Whitewash at Edgbaston?

Pakistan and England meet for the third and final Test of their 2026 series at Edgbaston on September 9, with England holding an unassailable 2-0 lead and Pakistan desperately fighting to avoid a series whitewash.

England have dominated the opening two matches, winning the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before completing a 194-run victory at Lord's. Pakistan have therefore arrived in Birmingham with the series already lost, but the final Test presents an opportunity to restore some pride and give their revamped squad a much-needed result.

England Have Been in Complete Control

The first two Tests have followed a remarkably similar pattern. England's pace attack has repeatedly exposed Pakistan's batting, while the hosts have been able to build substantial advantages with the ball and in key passages of the game.

At Headingley, England won by an innings and 103 runs. At Lord's, they followed that with a 194-run victory.

Pakistan have not even crossed 200 in any of their four innings across the opening two Tests, a statistic that underlines just how difficult the tour has been for their batting unit. The visitors now need a dramatic improvement if they are to challenge England at Edgbaston.

Pakistan's Squad Has Been Turned Upside Down

The biggest storyline heading into the third Test is not simply the scoreline. Pakistan's squad has undergone significant changes during the tour.

Seven players and two coaches were sent home amid a disciplinary and conduct investigation, creating an unusually turbulent environment around the team. The changes have opened the door for several younger and less experienced players to step into important roles.

That uncertainty makes Pakistan's final XI one of the most intriguing aspects of the Test. The team is expected to make multiple changes from the side that played at Lord's, with players such as Saim Ayub and Ubaid Shah among those facing increased responsibility.

Babar Azam Has a Major Role to Play

Captain Babar Azam enters the final Test under enormous pressure.

With the series already lost, Babar has an opportunity to change the tone around Pakistan cricket by leading from the front with both bat and captaincy. His experience will be particularly important in a side containing several players with limited Test exposure.

Babar has also publicly urged Pakistan to approach the match without fear. With the series outcome already decided, the captain believes the team can use the final Test as an opportunity to play with greater freedom.

For Pakistan, a strong performance from Babar could provide the stability that has been missing during a difficult tour.

England Are Chasing a Clean Sweep

England have a much simpler objective: finish the series 3-0.

Joe Root is leading England in the final Test as the side continues through a period of transition. Ben Stokes is no longer involved in the Test setup, while Brendon McCullum has moved into a white-ball role, leaving England to adapt to a different leadership structure.

Despite those changes, England have looked extremely comfortable against Pakistan so far.

The hosts will also want bigger contributions from some of their batsmen. England have produced dominant team performances without consistently converting starts into huge individual scores, meaning Edgbaston could provide an opportunity for players such as Joe Root, Harry Brook and Emilio Gay to make a major contribution.

England's Pace Attack Could Decide the Match

The most obvious difference between the two teams has been the effectiveness of England's bowling attack.

English seamers have repeatedly exploited the conditions and Pakistan's technical weaknesses. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson give England a varied pace attack capable of creating pressure from different angles.

The Edgbaston conditions could again reward disciplined seam bowling, particularly if the autumn weather produces movement through the air.

Pakistan's batsmen will therefore need to survive the new ball and avoid the collapses that have defined much of the series so far.

What Can Pakistan's Young Players Offer?

One of the few positives for Pakistan has been the opportunity created for younger players.

Saim Ayub has been among the players expected to carry greater responsibility, while Ubaid Shah is another young cricketer who could play an important role in the final Test.

For players entering a team under such difficult circumstances, Edgbaston represents both a huge challenge and a significant opportunity. A strong performance could establish them as important parts of Pakistan's Test setup going forward.

Pakistan may no longer be able to win the series, but the final Test could help identify players capable of becoming part of the team's next generation.

Edgbaston Could Offer a Different Challenge

The third Test is being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, a venue that can offer assistance to seam bowlers, particularly when the weather provides cloud cover and movement.

The match also comes relatively late in the English summer, with cooler September conditions potentially making the ball move differently compared with the earlier Tests.

Rain is another factor to watch during the five-day contest, meaning both captains may need to adapt their tactics according to interruptions and changing conditions.

England will be confident that their bowling attack can exploit the venue, while Pakistan will hope the surface gives their own seamers enough assistance to stay competitive.

Probable Playing XIs

England are expected to retain a strong bowling attack, with Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith forming the core of the batting order.

Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue provide the main pace options.

Pakistan are expected to make several changes after the dramatic squad reshuffle. The final XI is likely to feature a mixture of experienced players and younger cricketers being given an opportunity to make their mark.

England vs Pakistan: What Is at Stake?

For England, this is about completing the job. A 3-0 victory would underline their dominance throughout the series and give the team momentum heading into the next phase of the international calendar.

For Pakistan, the stakes are more emotional and long-term.

A victory would not change the series result, but it would prevent a clean sweep and potentially give the reshaped squad something positive to build on. It could also provide Babar Azam and his players with a much-needed confidence boost after a deeply disappointing tour.

There is also a wider World Test Championship context. Pakistan entered the series already struggling in the standings, and further defeats have only increased the pressure on the team.

Pakistan's Best Chance to Fight Back

Despite everything that has happened, Pakistan cannot afford to approach the third Test as a formality.

The visitors need their top order to survive the opening spell, their middle order to convert starts and their bowlers to maintain pressure for long periods. If they can finally put together a substantial first-innings score, the match could become much more competitive than the opening two Tests.

England remain the clear favourites based on everything that has happened so far. Their bowling attack has been more consistent, their batting has handled pressure better and they have already demonstrated that they can dominate Pakistan for long stretches.

But Test cricket can change quickly. Pakistan have nothing left to lose, and that freedom could make them dangerous.

Pakistan vs England 3rd Test: Match Details

The Big Question: Can Pakistan Avoid 3-0?

England have every reason to believe they can complete a series sweep. Pakistan, however, enter the final Test with one major advantage: there is no longer any series pressure in terms of winning the overall contest.

That could allow Babar Azam's team to play with the freedom and aggression that has been missing from the first two Tests.

Whether that freedom produces a turnaround remains the biggest question heading into Edgbaston.

England are chasing a clean sweep. Pakistan are fighting for pride, confidence and a reason to believe that this troubled tour can still end on a positive note.