The third and final Test between the hosts England and the visitors Pakistan will begin on Friday (21st August) at The Rose Bowl (Southampton). Before this Test match, England are leading this series by 1-0. So, Pakistan must have to win this upcoming Test to save this series, while another draw is enough for the hosts to win this three-match Test series.
Old Trafford (Manchester) hosted the opening Test of this series. It was a very tight game but the hosts England finally managed to win that Test by three wickets.
The Rose Bowl (Southampton) hosted the second Test of this series where the rainy weather discouraged that game and only 134.3 overs were possible to bowl in that entire Test which couldn’t complete the first two innings of the Test.
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Full Squad
England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah.
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Pitch Preview
The Rose Bowl (Southampton) has already organised two Tests in this season. While West Indies claimed a four-wicket victory at this venue in early July, the unstoppable rainy weather forced to settle with a boring draw in the previous Test against Pakistan in the last week.
Both the Tests of this season at this venue hadn’t the high-scoring encounter.
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Weather Forecast
Once again the non-stop rain can spoil the upcoming Test between England and Pakistan. Except for the fourth day of this Test match (24th August), there are the very good chances that rain could interrupt the Test match.
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Predicted XI
England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Root (c), Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Dominic Bess and James Anderson
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Match Prediction
While it is the must-win game for the Pakistan team, their batsmen must have to perform well. This Pakistan team is really competitive, especially when England are currently struggling in Test cricket due to the lack of in-form batsmen. Both the bowling sides have dominated in this series, and they are once again going to play a crucial role in the series-decider.
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Fantasy Tips
England
Once again England will miss their all-rounder Ben Stokes. While most of the other English batsmen are struggling to maintain consistency, opener Dom Sibley has maintained the consistent image with the bat very well.
While the most wicket-taker of this series Stuart Broad (10 wickets) is currently in great form, another experienced English pacer James Anderson also bowled well in the previous Test match.
We can’t also put out the game changers Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes, who played the vital roles in the fourth innings of the first Test of this series that helped the England team to snatch a victory. Youngster Sam Curran is another name, who has mostly played crucial roles in the home Tests.
Pakistan
While Shan Masood impressed with his batting in the first Test of this series, another opener Abid Ali and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan performed impressively in the rain-marred second Test. However, Babar Azam is still the vital cog in this batting line-up.
The pacers Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have impressed in this tour. The leg-spinner Yasir Shah is currently the second most wicket-taker in this Test series with nine wickets.
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection
Captain Options: Babar Azam, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad
Vice-Captain Options: Yasir Shah, Shan Masood, Joe Root
Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket
Wicket-keeper(s): Jos Buttler
Batsmen: Babar Azam (C), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Joe Root, Ollie Pope
All-rounder(s): Chris Woakes, Sam Curran
Bowler: Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Stuart Broad (vc)
Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket
Wicket-keeper(s): Mohammad Rizwan
Batsmen: Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Joe Root, Dom Sibley
All-rounder(s): Chris Woakes (C), Sam Curran
Bowlers: Yasir Shah (vc), Mohammad Abbas, James Anderson, Stuart Broad
England vs Pakistan 2020, 3rd Test: Live Streaming Details
The morning session of each day of this Test match has been scheduled to begin at 15:30 IST.
TV: Sony Six, Sony Six HD
Online: SonyLIV app