Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Dream11 | ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Key Players | Southampton Pitch Report
Southampton, take two. After endless frustration right throughout the second Test, Southampton hosts the third Test, this time with the hope that rain will relent long enough for a result.
All the frustation makes England’s superb counterattack seem like quite a while ago. As a result, the England players, whom many have played all Tests so far this summer, had a decent break between the first Test and the third. So, after rain lashed the Ageas Bowl in the past week or so, will it be England who can seal this series win and continue their push towards Australia and India on the World Test Championship table?
The possibility of a series win for Pakistan is now gone. It could have been so different had it not been for two poor sessions Old Trafford, but they come into this third Test on the back of encouraging signs in this series to date. Mohammad Rizwan’s runs is a welcome boost, as is the confidence that Mohammad Abbas and the Pakistani attack inspires at their best. So, if the rain relents for long enough in this Test, can Pakistan do what they did in England in 2016 and 2018 and draw the series?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
- Joe Root is back in his number four position and has a key role to play. He averages 49.36 in 73 knocks at number four, compared to 38.66 in 53 innings at three.
- Also, Root has a strong record vs Pakistan: 11 Tests, 981 runs, avg. 57.70.
- Can Shan Masood deliver in this Test? He has scored 0 and 1 since his superb 156 at Old Trafford, so it will be interesting to see how he responds. His opening partner, Abid Ali, fought hard for 60 last time out.
- Babar Azam has scored some tough runs (121 runs in three knocks) in a series where bowlers have dominated. Since the start of 2018, Babar has scored 1,496 runs at 62.33. A key player.
- Can Zak Crawley build on his promising 53 on day five of the last Test?
- Jos Buttler only got to bat 13 balls in the last Test, but his recent batting form has been encouraging (220 runs in last six knocks at 44). Also, Buttler enjoys batting at the Ageas Bowl, boasting an average of 75.77 in four Tests.
- His opposite number, Mohammad Rizwan, won man of the match last Test. His fighting knock of 72 goes well with his excellent glovework. Encouraging signs.
- Ollie Pope has performed well with England under pressure in recent times. He has scored 91 and 62 in the two Tests before the last, coming in with England tottering both times (122/4 and 12/3).
- Stuart Broad has taken 26 wickets in seven innings since being left out (3.71 wickets per innings). Also, Broad has scored 109 runs at 54.50.
- Broad’s career record vs Pakistan: 64 wickets, average 22.54, SR 54.7.
- James Anderson denied retirement rumours. Then, he came out and bowled beautifully. He is coming off 3/60 in the last Test, and has the most wickets of any English bowler vs Pakistan (67 wickets, avg. 19.82).
- Yasir Shah has taken nine wickets in three innings this series.
- Mohammad Abbas loves these conditions. He has taken five wickets this series, and averages 15.93 in four Tests in England.

Stats and Facts
- The average first innings score in Tests at Southampton is 285.8. This number is given a huge boost thanks to England’s 569/7d v India in 2014. The other four scores have been 184, 246, 204 and Pakistan’s 236 last Test.
- Spotlight will be on Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. Their average opening partnership this summer is 30.25. Rory Burns has scored just 14 runs in three knocks this series, and Sibley continues to struggle with balls down the legside.
- Spotlight will also be on under pressure skipper Azhar Ali. He has scored 232 runs at an average of 12.21 in his last 18 Test knocks outside Asia.
- James Anderson needs seven wickets to become the first pace bowler to take 600 Test wickets.
Possible Playing 11
Dom Bess didn’t bowl a single over in the last Test, but with the Southampton track historically providing assistance to spinners, England will likely look to keep that spinning option.
Jofra Archer, who was rested last Test, could come back in as part of England’s rotation. It remains to be seen whether England choose to rest another seamer, such as James Anderson.
England: 1. Rory Burns, 2. Dom Sibley, 3. Zak Crawley, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Ollie Pope, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Chris Woakes, 8. Dom Bess, 9. Stuart Broad, 10. Jofra Archer, 11. James Anderson
Pakistan’s bowlers didn’t do much work in the second Test courtesy of the weather. So, there is every chance they will go in with the same XI.
Pakistan: 1. Shan Masood, 2. Abid Ali, 3. Azhar Ali (c), 4. Babar Azam, 5. Fawad Alam, 6. Asad Shafiq, 7. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8. Yasir Shah, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Mohammad Abbas, 11. Naseem Shah
Ageas Bowl Southampton Pitch Report and Conditions
The seam movement and swing on offer was a sight to behold in the small amount of action we saw in the second Test. The average first innings score at Southampton is now below 300, even with England’s huge 569/7d in 2014. So, expect the seamers to play a key role again, with spin, an example being Moeen Ali in 2018, not out of the question either.
In terms of the weather forecast, rain is unfortunately expected to make an appearance throughout the Test again. However, the hope is that it won’t be as persistent as the second Test, with the sun forecast to make an appearance throughout each day.
Dream11 Prediction
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Match Prediction
Weather permitting, this match has the makings of another close battle, given that both bowling attacks are capable of causing carnage to fragile batting lineups. Runs on the board up front the key to victory? A good chance.
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