Key events
Weather watch The sun is out at Edgbaston and play should start on time. The forecast is pretty good all day, so England should have plenty of time to get the job done and begin their end-of-series celebrations. Lime cordials all round.
Ali Martin
Day two report
Friday is the only sold-out day of this third Test but whether that translates into a full house remains to be seen. Much like the series itself, the contest is long since over, set in motion by Pakistan’s howling collapse on the first day and then compounded by England’s ruthlessness on the second.
Although for all that England’s march to a 3-0 clean sweep appears a formality, there should in theory be a decent chunk of cricket to enjoy. Joe Root’s side are still eight wickets away from enjoying a weekend at leisure, with Pakistan, set to resume on 52 for two, 268 runs away from making them bat again.
It follows a dominant outing with the bat from England that turned 156 for four in the morning into 453 all out by tea. That said, three men still trudged off despondently. Harry Brook needlessly ran himself out on 75, Dan Lawrence chopped on for 65, while Jamie Smith fell for 69 after batting through the pain of a suspected broken finger. In all three cases, a Test century went begging.
Preamble
It’s the last day of term, kids. Wear what you like, play a bit of Subbuteo, talk to the people you’re usually too shy to talk to. England will wrap up a crushing, slightly sad 3-0 win over Pakistan sometime this afternoon, and Ollie Robinson will smile modestly after collecting yet another award.
Robinson continued his Lohmannesque summer – 28 wickets at 7.75 apiece – by taking both Pakistan wickets to fall yesterday afternoon. Pakistan will resume on 52 for 2, still 268 runs behind. They’ve got two chances, Slim and none. And the selectors sent Slim home.