England v West Indies 2024, third men's Test: All you need to know

Start times, location, TV and streaming information, squads, form, odds, weather and more...

The Cricketer | 25/07/2024 at 09:00

What is it?

The third and final match of the Test series between England and West Indies.

When is it?

The second Test is scheduled to start on Friday, July 25 and the first ball is due to be bowled at 11 am.

Where is it?

Edgbaston will host international cricket for the third time this summer but the first Test match. The ground will be turning blue on day two for #BlueForBob day to raise awareness for the Bob Willis Fund and testicular cancer.

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^{Kevin Sinclair suffered a broken arm in the last test match while batting (Darren Staples/Getty Images)}

Who's got the form?

England have already secured the series victory as they take a 2-0 series lead to Birmingham for the final game.

While the first Test was a dominant England victory, the second match was far more competitive as both teams made over 400 in their first innings before England bowled the visitors out late on day four to win by 241 runs.

West Indies displayed more fight with the bat in their first innings at Trent Bridge, making 457 runs off the back of a maiden Test century from Kavem Hodge and twin scores of 82 from Alick Athanaze and Joshua Da Silva.

In the second innings they were defeated by Shoaib Bashir (5 for 41) who took his first test five-wicket haul in England. Mark Wood made a rapid return to Test cricket and was unlucky not to take more than the two wickets he managed at Trent Bridge.

For England, there were centuries for Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook as they managed two scores over 400 in a Test match for the first time. Zak Crawley, who managed just three runs over his two innings at Trent Bridge, will hope for an improvement.

What's the squad news?

England have named an unchanged XI for the third and final match of the series. This means Mark Wood retains his spot in the side despite suffering from cramp at Trent Bridge while there is no place for spare seamers Dillon Pennington and Matthew Potts.

There was a change in the West Indies squad during the build-up to the final match of the series as Akeem Jordan has replaced the injured Jeremiah Louis after the latter suffered a hamstring injury.

Jordan might immediately be required as seamer Shamar Jospeh is a doubt after suffering with flu this week. West Indies will make a final decision on the morning of the first day.

Off spinner Kevin Sinclair will definitely be unavailable for the final Test after he suffered a broken arm when he was struck on the arm by a Mark Wood delivery and will be replaced by Gudakesh Motie.

England: Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Jeremiah Louis, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair

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^{Mark Wood will play back-to-back Test matches for England (Getty Images)}

What is the weather forecast?

The weather forecast suggests there is a low chance of rain throughout the match with cloudy spell interrupting an otherwise sunny outlook. This means we may have spells similar to the second Test in which clouds formed to briefly tilt the contest in the bowler’s favour.

What are the odds?

After England sealed the series victory at Trent Bridge, they are 1/7 favourites to win the third Test while the draw is 12/1 and a West Indies win is at 11/1.

You can bet on an ambitious tied match at odds of 500/1.