England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Playing 11, Pitch Report, WTC Final Scenarios, and Live Streaming Details

England and West Indies are set to face off in the third and final Test of their series at Edgbaston, Birmingham. England has dominated the series so far, securing comprehensive victories in the first two Tests.

England will be looking to continue their dominance and complete a clean sweep of the series. Their batting lineup, bolstered by the likes of Root and Ben Stokes, and a potent bowling attack led by Anderson and Broad, makes them favorites.

West Indies, on the other hand, will be aiming to salvage some pride by putting up a strong fight. They will need significant contributions from their top-order batsmen and an improved performance from their bowlers to challenge England effectively.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Match Details

The match will begin on July 26, 3:30 PM IST in India and July 26, 11:00 AM Local Time in the UK. In their last game at Trent Bridge, England they won by 241 runs courtesy of phenomenal performances from the batters, especially Ollie Pope.

Head-to-Heads

Of the 165 matches between them, so far England has won 53 matches West Indies has won 59 test matches, and 53 were drawn. England in their den has a slight edge over West Indies by a lead of 38-31.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Squad News

England

Given the comprehensive win and the strong performances from both batsmen and bowlers, England should largely stick with the same XI. Considering the heavy workload of fast bowlers like Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, there might be a case for rotating them to keep them fresh. Matthew Potts or Dillon Pennington could be brought in if required. Shoaib Bashir’s excellent performance should see him retain his place to build on his confidence and experience.

West Indies

The middle-order collapse in the second innings needs addressing. Zachary McCaskie could be considered to replace one of the out-of-form batsmen like Kirk McKenzie. The bowlers showed improvement but need more consistency. Gudakesh Motie, the left-arm spinner, could be introduced to add variety to the attack, possibly replacing Kevin Sinclair or Shamar Joseph. Despite the collapse, Mikyle Louis and Kraigg Brathwaite showed some resilience at the top. Keeping faith in them is crucial for stability.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Possible Playing 11

England

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood / Matthew Potts, Shoaib Bashir.

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie / Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie / Kevin Sinclair.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Weather and Pitch Report

Edgbaston, Birmingham, is known for its balanced pitch that offers fair assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. The pitch is generally favorable to pacers, especially under conditions of overcast and rainy weather. In the last five Test matches played at Edgbaston, the average score has been 319, with a total of 119 wickets taken—97 by pacers and 22 by spinners. Historically, teams winning the toss have chosen to bat first 75% of the time, though teams batting first have a win rate of only 33.33%.

The average scores across innings are 308 in the first innings, 317 in the second, 243 in the third, and 163 in the fourth. The highest total recorded is 710/7 by England against India, while the lowest total is 30/10 by South Africa against England. The highest successful chase is 378/3 by England against India, and the lowest total defended is 121/10 by Australia against England.

Given the pitch conditions and historical statistics, the team winning the toss might opt to bat first to take advantage of the pitch before any potential weather disruptions. Pacers are likely to play a significant role, especially in the early overs, while spinners may come into play as the pitch wears down. The performance of the key players will be crucial in determining the outcome of this Test match.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Players to Watch Out For

England

Ollie Pope’s performance will be key in stabilizing the batting lineup. Ben Stokes can impact the game with both bat and ball. His leadership and ability to perform under pressure make him a crucial player. Joe Root’s experience and technique will be vital for England’s performance.

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite is essential for setting a strong foundation. His role will be crucial in navigating the early overs against the English pace attack. Jason Holder brings balance to the team with his effective bowling and useful lower-order batting. His ability to take crucial wickets and contribute runs will be important. Alzarri Joseph has the potential to extract pace and bounce from the pitch. His performance with the ball will be key in challenging the English batsmen.

ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final Scenarios

India and Australia lead the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table. England has jumped to sixth in the rankings on the backdrop of their last two Test Victories. They will likely have to bank on having a similar performance in this match and next to reach the finals. After the Caribbeans, they will face sterner challenges from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand.

The West Indies are now at the bottom of the rankings due to their last two losses. They will face South Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan after England. The last loss has reduced their percentile score to 22, below South Africa, Bangladesh who have 25. A loss will further reduce their percentile score.

England vs West Indies 3rd Test Live Telecast and Live Streaming Details

Where to Watch England vs West Indies 3rd Test in India?

Fans in India can watch the game on Fancode and Sony Sports.

Where to Watch England vs West Indies 3rd Test in the UK?

Fans in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports.