Probable XI: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
Probable XI: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Ali
What they said:
“I think it’s very easy to say one team is excellent and one team is poor. Normally it’s somewhere in the middle. Regardless of what’s happened over the last two games, this week it’s a completely different proposition for us.” – Joe Root, England captain
“We’ve practiced a couple of days and explained things to the new boys. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too.” – Babar Azam, Pakistan captain
Squads:
England Squad: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root(c), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith(w), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir, Sonny Baker, Sam Cook, Ollie Pope
Pakistan Squad: Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam(c), Saim Ayub, Saud Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori(w), Arafat Minhas, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Mohammad Imran, Saad Baig, Abdullah Fazal, Razaullah
Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord’s.
The PCB responded by sending seven players home and removing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his assistant Umar Gul.
The replacements include five players with no Test experience. White-ball coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have also been brought in to take charge at Edgbaston.
Babar wants Pakistan to play without fear
Babar described the changes as an opportunity for the new-look group to show what they can do.
He said the players now have a chance “to showcase their talent.”
None of the Pakistan players, including Babar, have played a Test at Edgbaston.
“The series is lost but we have nothing to lose,” he added. “We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team.”
