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Pakistan vs England Test Series 2026

Pakistan vs England Test Series 2026: A 2–0 Deficit, a New-Look Team and One Last Fight

Pakistan arrived in England with a familiar hope: compete in difficult conditions, challenge the hosts and prove that their Test side could stand up against one of the strongest home teams in world cricket.

September 9, 2026
Read time | 5 min

Overview

Two Tests later, the story looks very different.

England have already secured the three-match series with a 2–0 lead, winning the opening Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs before defeating Pakistan by 194 runs at Lord’s. Now, as the third Test gets underway at Edgbaston on September 9, Pakistan are not only trying to avoid a 3–0 sweep, they are attempting to find some stability after one of the most dramatic mid-series overhauls in recent Pakistan cricket.

From Headingley Dominance to Lord’s Disappointment

The series could hardly have started worse for Pakistan. At Headingley, England's pace attack tore through Pakistan's batting. Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in their first innings, while England responded with 409. The visitors were then bowled out for 135 in the second innings, handing England an innings-and-103-run victory inside three days. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were particularly destructive, each taking eight wickets in the match.

For Pakistan, the bigger concern was not simply the margin of defeat. Their batting never managed to build sustained pressure against England’s seam attack.

The second Test at Lord’s offered an opportunity to reset. Instead, England produced another commanding performance.

Set 389 to win, Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 194. Saud Shakeel provided the strongest resistance with a fighting 97, but England’s bowlers once again controlled the contest. Ollie Robinson took eight wickets in the match as England secured a 194-run victory and an unassailable 2–0 series lead.

Two Tests. Two heavy defeats. The series is gone.

But then the real drama began.

Seven Players Sent Home

After the Lord’s defeat, the Pakistan Cricket Board made sweeping changes to the touring party.

Seven players, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, were sent home. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was also replaced, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson taking charge of the red-ball team for the final Test.

The scale and timing of the changes immediately attracted attention.

This was not a squad overhaul between series. It happened while the England series was still in progress, with one Test remaining.

Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie criticised the move, arguing that repeated changes have made it difficult for the team to develop stability and consistency. His comments added another layer to an already intense debate surrounding Pakistan cricket’s management and long-term planning.

At the same time, it is important not to treat every allegation circulating around the changes as an established fact. The PCB has initiated an internal inquiry into reported issues involving player conduct and discipline, but the full findings have not been publicly established.

A New Coach Walks Into the Chaos

Mike Hesson inherited perhaps the most difficult possible situation.

He was brought into the red-ball setup after the first two Tests and made it clear that he had not been involved in the decision to send the seven players home. By the time he took charge, the decisions had already been made.

His immediate task was therefore bigger than simply preparing Pakistan for another Test.

He had to rebuild a side that had lost 2–0, introduce new players, manage the uncertainty surrounding the squad and somehow prepare them to face an England bowling attack that had already dominated the first two matches.

It is a difficult assignment, but it also creates an unusual opportunity.

For some of Pakistan’s younger players, Edgbaston is a chance to make a first impression on the biggest stage.

Edgbaston: One Final Opportunity

The third Test began at Edgbaston on September 9 with England winning the toss and choosing to bowl under overcast conditions.

Pakistan entered the match with four changes, while England retained the same XI from Lord’s. The reshaped Pakistan side included new faces, with Saim Ayub returning to the Test team alongside uncapped players.

But the new beginning immediately produced an old problem.

Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck by Ollie Robinson, who reached the landmark of 100 Test wickets with the dismissal. Robinson has been one of the defining bowlers of the series and has repeatedly exposed Pakistan’s top order with movement and accuracy.

England’s objective is straightforward: complete the clean sweep.

Pakistan’s objective is more complicated.

They need a performance that can change the mood around the team.

Babar Azam and the Search for a Response

With the series already lost, captain Babar Azam faces an important leadership moment.

Pakistan cannot win the series anymore. But they can still win the Test, finish the tour 2–1 and, perhaps more importantly, give the reshaped team something positive to take home.

Babar has urged his players to approach the final Test without fear, framing the match as an opportunity rather than simply the final chapter of a disappointing series. That mindset could be crucial.

Pakistan’s problem in England has not been a lack of individual talent. It has been the inability to turn individual ability into sustained team performances. The first two Tests exposed weaknesses with both bat and ball, while the dramatic changes away from the field have added another layer of pressure.

Edgbaston therefore becomes a test of character as much as cricketing ability.

England Have Their Own Story to Finish

England are not entering the final Test simply to complete the formalities.

Under Joe Root, they have been clinical throughout the series. Their pace attack has repeatedly exploited Pakistan’s batting weaknesses, while their overall consistency has allowed them to control both matches from crucial stages.

The series also represents a new phase for England. Ben Stokes has departed as captain, while Root has returned to lead the Test side. Despite those changes, England have managed to establish momentum and have already secured their first home multi-match Test series victory since 2024.

Now they have the opportunity to finish the summer with a 3–0 sweep.

More Than Just a Cricket Match

The third Test is therefore about more than the scorecard.

For England, it is an opportunity to complete a dominant series.

For Pakistan, it is an opportunity to stop the slide.

And for the players who have suddenly found themselves in a new-look Test squad, it could be the beginning of something much bigger.

A young player who performs at Edgbaston could emerge from this chaotic tour with a permanent place in Pakistan’s future plans. A strong bowling performance could provide the foundation for a new attack. A competitive batting display could restore confidence after two consecutive collapses.

Most importantly, Pakistan needs to demonstrate that the turmoil surrounding the team does not have to define what happens on the field.

The Bigger Question for Pakistan Cricket

The England series has exposed a problem that goes beyond two Test defeats.

Pakistan has talent. They have experienced players. They have young prospects waiting for opportunities. What has repeatedly been difficult is creating the stability needed to turn those ingredients into a consistent Test team.

The mid-series overhaul has intensified that conversation.

Gillespie has criticised the lack of stability, while Hesson has acknowledged the turbulence surrounding the side and spoken about rebuilding a balanced team.

The answer will not come from one Test match.

It will require clearer selection policies, continuity in coaching, proper preparation and an environment in which players know where they stand.

But cricket can change quickly.

A single innings can change a player’s career. A single Test can change the mood of a dressing room. And one victory can sometimes become the beginning of a completely different story.

One Last Fight

Pakistan have already lost the series.That cannot change.What can change is how they leave England.

A 3–0 defeat would underline the difficulties of the tour. A victory at Edgbaston would not erase the problems, but it could provide something Pakistan desperately needs right now: momentum.

For England, the target is a clean sweep.For Pakistan, the target is belief.

And at Edgbaston, with a new-look team taking the field and the pressure already at its highest, the final Test has become one last opportunity to turn a troubled tour into the beginning of a new chapter.

FAQS

What is the current Pakistan vs England Test series score in 2026?

England lead the three-match series 2–0 after winning the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs and the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs.

Is the third Pakistan vs England Test finished?

No. The third Test at Edgbaston began on September 9, 2026, and is currently underway. England have already secured the series, but the final match will determine whether they complete a 3–0 sweep or Pakistan finish the series with a victory.

Why did Pakistan make major changes before the third Test?

Following the two defeats, the PCB sent seven players home and replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mike Hesson for the final Test. The PCB has also initiated an internal inquiry into reported conduct and discipline issues, although the complete findings have not been publicly established.

Who is coaching Pakistan in the third Test?

Mike Hesson is in charge of Pakistan's red-ball side for the third Test at Edgbaston. He was appointed after Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed following the first two Tests.

Who has been England's standout bowler in the series?

Ollie Robinson has been one of England's most influential bowlers. He took eight wickets in the first Test and another eight in the second, before reaching 100 Test wickets during the opening stages of the third Test.

Can Pakistan still win the Test series?

No. England have already secured the series with a 2–0 lead. Pakistan can still win the third Test and finish the series 2–1.

What is at stake for Pakistan at Edgbaston?

Pakistan are trying to avoid a 3–0 series defeat, restore confidence and assess a reshaped squad that includes several new players. The match also gives the team's new coaching setup an early opportunity to establish a different direction.

What happened to the seven Pakistan players?

The seven players sent home were Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad.

Who won the first two Tests?

England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs and the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs.

When is the third Test being played?

The third and final Test was played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to September 13, 2026.