Quick answer: ENG vs PAK, Pakistan were bowled out for just 133 on Day 1 of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, after Josh Tongue took 4 for 42 and Ollie Robinson picked up 3 for 15. England then replied with 156 for 4 by stumps, giving the hosts a 23-run first innings lead. England already lead this three-match series 2-0, so this final Test is effectively a dead rubber for the result, though it still carries World Test Championship points and a lot of pride for a heavily reshuffled Pakistan side.
That is the whole story in one paragraph. If you want the session by session breakdown, the playing XIs, the key performers, and what this means for both teams going forward, read on.
ENG vs PAK Match and Series Snapshot
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | ENG vs PAK 3rd Test, Pakistan tour of England 2026 |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Dates | September 9 to 13, 2026 |
| Series score | England lead 2-0 |
| Toss | England won, chose to field |
| Pakistan 1st innings | 133 all out in 33.5 overs |
| England 1st innings (Day 1 close) | 156 for 4 |
| Day 1 lead | England by 23 runs |
Yaar, this is basically a series that England had already wrapped up before a ball was even bowled in Birmingham. England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, then followed it up with a 194-run win at Lord’s to seal the series with a match to spare. So this Edgbaston Test is really about pride for Pakistan and World Test Championship points for both sides. You can follow the full series schedule and points situation on our CPL and international series hub.
Why Did Pakistan Make So Many Changes Before This ENG vs PAK 3rd Test?
This is the bit a lot of quick match reports skip, but it is honestly the biggest story of the week. After the heavy defeat at Lord’s, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent seven players home mid-tour and called up seven replacements, five of them uncapped at Test level. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed from their roles, with white-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke stepping in to run the side for the rest of the series.
Big names like Salman Ali Agha, who had captained the side at Headingley while Babar Azam was injured, and left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took a five-wicket haul in that match, were among those sent home. Regular wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and opener Imam-ul-Haq were also dropped.
It is a fairly dramatic mid-series shake-up, and it set the tone for what turned out to be another difficult day with the bat for Pakistan.
What Were the Playing XIs for Day 1?
Pakistan Playing XI
- Azan Awais
- Saim Ayub
- Abdullah Shafique
- Shan Masood
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Saud Shakeel
- Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Imran Randhawa
- Razaullah
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Abbas
Four changes from the Lord’s XI, with three fresh faces in Ghazi Ghori, Imran Randhawa and Razaullah, all handed their maiden Test caps before play began. Saim Ayub also returned to the side after last featuring in the format against South Africa in 2025.
England Playing XI
England kept faith with the combination that won them the series, with Joe Root captaining an unchanged side built around Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay at the top, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope in the middle order, Jamie Smith behind the stumps, and a pace attack of Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson supported by the spin of Shoaib Bashir.
How Did Pakistan’s Innings Collapse?
England won the toss and chose to field first, a call that paid off almost immediately. Pakistan slipped to 26 for 4 inside the opening hour, with the new ball doing plenty through the channel outside off stump.
Saim Ayub survived an early scare, successfully reviewing an lbw decision off the fifth ball of the match, only to be given out lbw correctly soon after as Ollie Robinson picked up his 100th Test wicket. Abdullah Shafique was caught low down by Dan Lawrence, Shan Masood edged one to the keeper via a leading edge, and the middle order simply never got going.
Saud Shakeel was the one bright spot, playing a genuinely positive innings of 43 off 47 balls, including one particularly crisp cover drive that had the ground applauding. But once he departed, the tail folded quickly. The only real resistance after that came from debutant duo Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali, who put together a stubborn 26-run stand for the tenth wicket, actually more than Pakistan’s combined opening stands across their previous five innings in this series.
Pakistan were all out for 133 in 33.5 overs, their fifth consecutive total under 200 in this Test series. That is a stat that tells its own story about how one-sided this tour has been.
Who Were the Standout Bowlers?
| Bowler | Figures | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Tongue | 4 for 42 | Removed Babar Azam with a delivery that jagged in off the seam |
| Ollie Robinson | 3 for 15 | Economy rate of just 1.36, also claimed his 100th Test wicket |
| Jofra Archer | 3 wickets | Consistently troubled the top order with pace and bounce |
Three bowlers, ten wickets between them, and an economy rate from Robinson that basically strangled any chance of Pakistan building partnerships. That is about as complete a bowling performance as you will see in a single innings.
How Did England’s Reply Go?
England lost early wickets of their own, slipping to 39 for 3 before Emilio Gay and Harry Brook steadied things with a composed partnership through the middle session. By the time bad light and the close of play arrived, England were 156 for 4, a lead of 23 runs with six wickets still in hand.
It was not the cleanest day for England with the bat, but given how comfortably their bowlers had dismantled Pakistan, a 23-run first innings lead with wickets in reserve is a strong position to control Day 2 from.
What Does This Mean for the Series?
Practically speaking, not much changes the series outcome. England had already sealed the three-match series 2-0 after Lord’s, so this Test is a dead rubber in terms of the trophy. But it still matters. England are climbing the ICC World Test Championship table, having moved above Sri Lanka into sixth place after the Lord’s win, and a clean sweep at Edgbaston would extend that momentum heading into their next WTC assignments.
For Pakistan, this match is entirely about salvaging something from a brutal tour and giving the new faces, especially Ghazi Ghori, Imran Randhawa and Razaullah, a real chance to show they belong at this level. Interestingly, this is also the first ever Test played in September at Edgbaston, adding a small piece of history to what is otherwise a results-driven finale.
What Should We Expect on Day 2 ENG vs PAK?
With England 23 runs ahead and Harry Brook still at the crease, the shape of Day 2 depends heavily on how long England’s lower and middle order can extend that lead. If England push past 250 or even 300, Pakistan’s inexperienced batting order, missing several of its most capped players, will face an uphill task in the second innings. Expect Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson to keep hunting the top order early once Pakistan bat again, especially with the new ball still doing a bit off the seam at Edgbaston.
Where Can You Watch ENG vs PAK Live?
| Region | TV Channel | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket | Sky Go, NOW contract-free pass |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports | Tapmad, Tamasha |
| India | Sony Sports Network | SonyLIV |
| Australia | Fox Sports | Kayo Sports |
| Rest of the world | — | Check local broadcaster listings via the ICC website |
You can also follow ball by ball updates and the full scorecard on our CRIC INFO 365 scores page.
FAQs About England vs Pakistan (ENG vs PAK) 3rd Test Day 1
What was Pakistan’s score on Day 1 of the ENG vs PAK 3rd Test?
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs after being reduced to 26 for 4 early in the innings.
Who took the most wickets for England on Day 1 ENG vs PAK?
Josh Tongue led the attack with 4 for 42, while Ollie Robinson took 3 for 15 at an economy rate of 1.36, and Jofra Archer picked up 3 wickets.
What was England’s score at the close of Day 1 ENG vs PAK?
England finished the day on 156 for 4, a lead of 23 runs, after recovering from an early stumble at 39 for 3.
Why did Pakistan make so many changes to their squad before this ENG vs PAK Test?
After a heavy defeat at Lord’s, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent seven players home mid-tour, sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, and called up seven replacements, five of them uncapped at Test level.
Who are the Test debutants for Pakistan in this match ENG vs PAK?
Wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori and pace bowlers Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah all made their Test debuts at Edgbaston.
Has England already won the series?
Yes. England sealed the three-match series 2-0 after winning at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs and at Lord’s by 194 runs, so this final Test does not change the series outcome.
Who scored the most runs for Pakistan on Day 1 ENG vs PAK?
Saud Shakeel top scored with 43 off 47 balls, the only real resistance in Pakistan’s innings besides a late tenth wicket stand.
Is this Test important for the World Test Championship?
Yes. England have already climbed to sixth place in the WTC standings after their wins in this series, and points from this Test will factor into the ongoing 2025 to 2027 cycle.
Where can I watch England vs Pakistan 3rd Test live?
Fans in the UK can watch on Sky Sports Cricket, fans in Pakistan can use PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Tapmad or Tamasha, and fans in India can stream it on SonyLIV. Check the broadcast table above for full regional details.
Final Word
ENG vs PAK Day 1 at Edgbaston played out almost exactly as the series has gone so far, England’s bowlers doing the early damage and Pakistan’s batting order struggling to build any lasting partnerships against the new ball. Saud Shakeel’s innings and the tenth wicket stand gave Pakistan something to build on, but a 23-run deficit with England still holding wickets in hand means the hosts are firmly in control heading into Day 2. Keep an eye on the first hour tomorrow, since another early breakthrough with the new ball could put this Test firmly out of Pakistan’s reach.
For live scores and full scorecards as this Test continues, check platforms like ESPNcricinfo directly.
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