The three England players facing make-or-break final Test of summer

EDGBASTON — With the series against Pakistan already wrapped up, there is little riding on this final Test from an English perspective. Yet for three players, this week in Birmingham could be the defining one of their careers.

Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence all have plenty to play for at Edgbaston, even if the biggest talking point pre-match is whether a Pakistan team in chaos can take the match into the weekend.

This is England’s last Test for three months, and therefore that trio’s final chance to stake a claim for the tour of South Africa that starts in December and represents coach Stephen Fleming’s first assignment in his new job.

There may be an end-of-term feel around this dead rubber after England’s dominant wins at Headingley and Lord’s in the first two matches of the series.

England have already comfortably wrapped up the series (Photo: Reuters)