England Dominates Pakistan in Third Test at Edgbaston

Edgbaston waits for a contest that may already be finished.

Friday is the only sold‑out day of this third Test, yet even that guarantee on the ticket stubs might not translate into a packed house. The series has drifted beyond jeopardy, the match seemingly following it, shaped first by Pakistan’s howling collapse on day one and then by England’s cold, clinical dismantling on day two.

And yet, there should still be cricket to savour. On paper at least.

Joe Root’s side need just eight more wickets to wrap up a 3-0 clean sweep and stroll into the weekend. Pakistan, 52 for two overnight and still 268 runs away from merely making England bat again, stand between them and two days of rest.

England had already done the heavy lifting. Starting the morning on 156 for four, they piled up 453 all out by tea, a statement total that spoke of dominance but also of chances missed. Three batters walked off with the look of men who had left something behind.

Harry Brook was first to curse his luck – and his judgment – run out for 75 in a moment of self-inflicted chaos. Dan Lawrence followed, chopping on for 65 just as he seemed set to cash in. Jamie Smith, batting through the pain of a suspected broken finger, battled his way to 69 before falling short of what would have been a stirring maiden Test hundred. Three innings, three fine contributions, three centuries gone begging.

The scoreboard did not care. Nor did England’s bowlers.

After tea, Ollie Robinson ambled in with that familiar, loping approach and promptly ripped the top off Pakistan’s reply. The parachuted‑in Saim Ayub lasted one ball, fencing to Brook at second slip to complete a pair in the match. Three balls later, Abdullah Shafique nicked the fourth of the over to Root at first slip.

Two wickets, no runs, Robinson roaring. For a few overs, it felt like the Test might not even see a third day.

The strangest part? This wasn’t even Robinson’s most explosive opening over of the summer. Back in June at Lord’s he had knocked over three New Zealanders in his first six balls. Here, as he exchanged a few pointed words with the departing Shafique, he looked every inch a bowler hunting a quick kill.

Then the weather stepped in.

Rain swept across from the west and hacked the evening session down to just 12.4 overs. The final image was not Robinson charging away in wild‑eyed celebration, but the covers creeping across the outfield, the ground staff doing the only defending Pakistan managed all day.

There was still time for one more twist. Shan Masood, on 13, edged and watched Ben Duckett fling himself at third slip, only for the chance to burst through the fingers. A let‑off, and a reminder that even in one‑sided series, the game still has its small dramas.

By then, Root had already made a quiet piece of history. Restored to first slip, he pouched his 220th career catch, reclaiming the outfield record from Steve Smith. Maybe it was a response to Duckett’s two drops in the same position on day one. Maybe it was simply the luxury of a captain who knows his bowlers no longer need him at mid‑off, marshalling angles and fields, because they have Pakistan in a stranglehold.

One man, though, could have done with that arm around the shoulder.

Gus Atkinson, the unlucky bowler when Duckett shelled Masood, has endured a brutal set of figures in this series: one wicket for 172 runs. In a pace attack chewing through Pakistan like it’s a speed‑eating contest, he has been the one left staring at the empty plate. The numbers are harsh on him; he has bowled better than they suggest.

England, though, are in no mood for sentiment. Eight wickets stand between them and a whitewash. The crowd will come on Friday, sold‑out and hopeful of a contest.

The real question is whether Pakistan can make it last long enough for them to sit down.