England Search For Series Lead At Edgbaston

2 Aug 2016 | Cricket
A buoyant England will be looking to continue their imperious form from Old Trafford when they lock horns with Pakistan at Edgbaston in the Third Investec Test, starting tomorrow at 11am.

England banished their Lord's woes with a rampant 330-run victory in the Second Investec Test, with Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Chris Woakes all impressing for Trevor Bayliss' side.

A wounded Pakistan will be looking for revenge after a Jekyll-and-Hyde display in this series so far. Yasir Shah was the focal point of their victory in the First Test – taking 10 wickets – but took just one in the reverse in Manchester. He will undoubtedly play a major role at Edgbaston.

England are without the injured Ben Stokes for the fourth Test match of the summer. The Durham all-rounder missed three Tests with a jarred knee and is now sidelined by a calf strain. Captain Cook will have to choose from Notts seamer Jake Ball and Middlesex's Steven Finn on the morning of the Test.

Cook's side are chasing a series win, which would mean they hold all eight Test trophies against the current Test-playing nations, after defeating Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia in the past year. The captain himself is in superb form after smashing a 105 and 76 not out at Old Trafford, as England romped to success.

The surprise package of the summer has been Woakes, the Warwickshire allrouder who has taken 18 wickets in two Tests, as well as providing vital lower-order runs. The heavy blow of losing Stokes has been softened by the astonishing form of Woakes, who has announced himself as a Test match-quality bowler.

Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid remains with the squad and could be included – either in place of Moeen Ali or alongside the Worcestershire man if England opt for two spinners.

A win for Pakistan would clinch a 2-1 lead for the visitors and ensure they retain the trophy, after their 2-0 series triumph in the United Arab Emirates over the winter.

The Edgbaston Test gets underway at 11am tomorrow morning. @GlamCricket on Twitter will provide regular updates.

You can still secure your seats for the Royal London One Day International between England and Pakistan in Cardiff, at The SSE SWALEC on Sunday 4 September. Click here to secure your tickets.