England's four-man seam bowling unit demonstrated its collective potency once again on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston, reducing Pakistan to 133 all out. The hosts established a 23-run first-innings lead and reached 156 for four by stumps, with both teams acknowledging that the contest remains finely balanced despite England's commanding position.
Josh Tongue, who claimed four wickets, showcased a newly developed wobble seam delivery that he has refined through collaboration with Ollie Robinson. The remaining six dismissals were divided equally between Robinson and Jofra Archer, continuing England's dominance with the ball throughout the series. Emilio Gay and Harry Brook each scored half-centuries for England, with Gay making 60 and Brook remaining unbeaten on 52.
Tongue explained the development of his new skill, crediting his senior teammate's expertise.
"I've spoken to Robbo quite a bit about it,"he said.
"Obviously he's unbelievable at that and he's showed that throughout the series. So I've been speaking to him quite a bit during the last couple of Tests and I tried a couple of things in training the other day. That was the first time I'd bowled it in the game and it got me a wicket, so I'll be using it again. I want to get more skills under my belt."
England's position at the close left them well-placed to extend their advantage, though Tongue recognised the importance of the opening session on day two.
"That first hour tomorrow morning is going to be very crucial,"he said.
"We've just got to get through that first bit."
This was the fifth occasion in the series that Pakistan have been dismissed for a total below 200, a stark contrast to England's batting performance. The hosts have yet to be bowled out for less than 200 in any of their innings during the three-match contest, underlining the gulf in performance between the two teams.
Pakistan's struggle with English conditions
Saud Shakeel, who top-scored for Pakistan with 43, acknowledged the difficulty his team faced against England's pace attack and the challenging pitch conditions.
"Early on, when we lost the toss, the pitch had some moisture in it and the overcast conditions helped their bowlers as well. We got some soft dismissals and we couldn't come back from that."
Pakistan had made seven changes to their Test squad ahead of the Edgbaston match following heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, but the alterations failed to produce immediate improvement.
"We're working hard, it's not like we aren't trying,"Shakeel said.
"There's a lot of lateral movement and we're not used to facing that, but we are trying our best. I'm not saying our batting group has not struggled, we have accepted that. But the conditions have been difficult. Bowlers have been on top."
Despite the overall collapse, Pakistan found encouragement in the performance of a debutant fast bowler. Razaullah, playing only his ninth first-class match, bowled with considerable pace and claimed the scalps of both Gay and Joe Root, demonstrating the potential that raw talent can bring to international cricket.
Razaullah's impact as a debutant
Shakeel was impressed by the young bowler's contribution, particularly given his limited experience at the highest level.
"I've just faced him one time in a domestic first-class game, so I haven't seen him that much,"Shakeel said.
"But he has some raw pace and a difficult action and we're hoping he will continue bowling like this. With express fast bowlers, even if they haven't played a lot of first-class cricket, it doesn't matter. Their raw talent and pace is useful, which we saw from him today."
Pakistan's bowling performance in their first innings provided a glimmer of hope for the tourists.
"We started well with our bowling and if we can get them out quickly there's a good chance we can get back in the game,"Shakeel said, highlighting the importance of a strong response with the ball in England's second innings.
Series context and England's dominance
England arrived at Edgbaston with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, having won convincingly at Headingley and Lord's. The hosts omitted Brydon Carse from their squad for the third Test, with Sonny Baker retaining his place in the 15-man party. The match represents the final men's Test of the English domestic season and marks England's first Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston in a decade.
The collective strength of England's seam attack has been a defining feature of the series. Robinson's expertise with the wobble seam, which he has demonstrated throughout the campaign, has now been passed on to Tongue, suggesting that England's bowling depth extends beyond individual brilliance to a culture of shared learning and tactical innovation among the pace bowlers.
What happens next
The third Test is scheduled to run from 9–13 September 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with play resuming on day two at 11:00 BST. England will look to extend their first-innings advantage and press home their dominance, while Pakistan must produce a significant batting performance to keep the match competitive. The contest will conclude the Pakistan tour of England 2026, with England seeking to complete a clean sweep of the series.
