England Names Unchanged Squad for Final Test Against Pakistan
England have named an unchanged squad for the final Test of the summer, a clear statement that they want the job finished, not just done.
With the series against Pakistan already secured after dominant wins at Headingley and Lord’s, the selectors have resisted any temptation to tinker. Josh Tongue and Ben Duckett, two of the standout stories of the campaign, keep their places for the third Rothesay Test at Edgbaston, starting Wednesday 9 September.
Tongue leads a ruthless attack
If there has been a single symbol of England’s control with the ball, it has been Tongue. The seamer has ripped through Pakistan’s line-up with 13 wickets at a remarkable average of 12.46, his best figures the 5-46 that broke the back of the visitors in Leeds.
He has not just taken wickets; he has set the tone. Hard lengths, a heavy ball, and spells that have repeatedly turned pressure into collapse. In a refreshed England attack bristling with options, he has forced his way from hopeful to indispensable in the space of two Tests.
That he retains his place without discussion says plenty about his impact – and about England’s desire to maintain a ruthless streak rather than rotate for rotation’s sake.
Duckett and Gay stay at the top
At the other end of the innings, Duckett again walks out alongside Emilio Gay. The pair will open together for the third straight match, a sign that England are backing this partnership to grow rather than shuffling the pack with the series already in the bag.
Duckett’s tempo and range of strokes have underpinned England’s aggressive approach, while Gay has been tasked with offering a calmer anchor. It is a blend the management clearly like, and one they want to test again under the particular scrutiny of Edgbaston, where early movement and a charged crowd can quickly expose any uncertainty.
No changes, no complacency
The 15-strong group is exactly the same as the squad that crushed Pakistan by 194 runs at Lord’s last week. Joe Root again leads a side stacked with pace, skill, and batting depth:
- Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain)
- Jofra Archer (Sussex)
- Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
- Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
- Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)
- Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
- Sam Cook (Essex)
- Jordan Cox (Essex)
- Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
- Emilio Gay (Durham)
- Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
- Ollie Pope (Surrey)
- Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
- Jamie Smith (Surrey)
With the home 2026 programme drawing to a close, Edgbaston offers one last chance to make a statement. The series is won. The mood, though, is clear: this England side want a whitewash, not a warm-down.
