England Aims for Series Whitewash Against West Indies at Edgbaston
England’s cricket team is on the brink of a series whitewash as they face West Indies in the final Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. After two dominant victories, England will be looking to seal the series with a 3-0 clean sweep. The final Test begins on Friday, July 26, at 11 AM local time.
England’s Dominance and Unchanged XI
England has announced an unchanged XI for the third Test, showing confidence in their current lineup. The team has been in excellent form, with notable performances from both their batting and bowling units. Despite Zak Crawley’s twin failures in the second Test, the batting lineup has been consistent, delivering scores that have put immense pressure on the West Indies.
Mark Wood, who stepped in after James Anderson’s retirement, has been a key player, showcasing his fiery pace. The standout performer, however, has been 20-year-old Shoaib Bashir, who took seven wickets in the second Test, including a crucial five-wicket haul in the second innings.
England’s Playing XI:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (C)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Mark Wood
- Shoaib Bashir
West Indies’ Struggles and Changes
The West Indies have struggled throughout the series, with their batting lineup failing to deliver consistently. Their only bright spot was Kavem Hodge’s maiden century and significant contributions from Alick Athanaze and Joshua Da Silva in the second Test. However, these efforts were not enough to secure a win.
For the final Test, West Indies might see the return of Gudakesh Motie, who missed the second Test due to illness. Kevin Sinclair is ruled out with a fracture, which could lead to some reshuffling in their bowling lineup.
West Indies’ Probable XI:
- Kraigg Brathwaite (C)
- Mikyle Louis
- Kirk McKenzie
- Alick Athanaze
- Kavem Hodge
- Jason Holder
- Joshua Da Silva (wk)
- Alzarri Joseph
- Kevin Sinclair/Gudakesh Motie
- Shamar Joseph
- Jayden Seales
Match Preview and Conditions
The weather forecast for the five days is mostly cloudy, but rain is unlikely to interfere. Edgbaston’s pitch has been conducive to run-scoring, and both teams will be looking to capitalize on these conditions.
England, buoyed by their “Bazball 2.0” approach, are favorites to win and complete the whitewash. For West Indies, the focus will be on a significant batting turnaround to avoid a 3-0 series defeat.
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