England and Pakistan return to action for the third and final Test of the series on Wednesday, September 9, with Edgbaston in Birmingham hosting the last battle. England have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead after dominant wins at Headingley and Lord’s, leaving Pakistan with one final chance to avoid a clean sweep. The match is scheduled to begin at 11:00am local time (3:30 Pm IST) at Edgbaston, with both sides hoping for a full day of cricket. However, the weather has already played its part in this series, making the forecast an important talking point ahead of the opening day. So, will rain spoil England vs Pakistan Day 1 at Edgbaston?
Birmingham Weather Today During England vs Pakistan Match
The latest Met Office forecast for Edgbaston is fairly encouraging for cricket. It predicts some light showers early in the morning before conditions turn better, with sunny intervals expected for later part of the day. The chance of precipitation is around 40% at 10am, 30% at 11am, 40% at noon and 50% at 1pm, before dropping to 10% at 5pm. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 17°C, while winds should remain relatively light.
Rain Expected to Delay ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Day 1Â
AccuWeather is slightly more cautious. Its latest forecast gives Edgbaston a 60% overall chance of precipitation for Wednesday, with a few showers expected in the morning. However, it forecasts conditions to improve later, with a high of 18°C and variable cloud cover. AccuWeather currently estimates around 2.5 hours of precipitation across the day and rain in the next 30 minutes, right before the match starts.Â
That means there could be some concern around the start of play, but the forecast does not currently point towards a washout. If the early showers clear as predicted, the teams should have a good chance of getting through most of Day 1 without major interruptions.
Edgbaston Hourly Weather Forecast
- 8am: Sunny intervals, around 13°C; 40% chance of rain
- 9am: Sunny intervals, around 14°C; 20% chance of rain
- 10am: Sunny intervals, around 15°C; 40% chance of rain
- 11am: Overcast, around 16°C; 30% chance of rain
- 12pm: Overcast, around 16°C; 30% chance of rain
- 1pm: Overcast, around 17°C; 50% chance of rain
- 2pm: Cloudy, around 17°C; 40% chance of rain
- 3pm: Cloudy/sunny intervals, around 17°C; 30% chance of rain
- 4pm: Sunny intervals, around 17°C; 30% chance of rain
- 5pm: Sunny intervals, around 17°C; 10% chance of rain
- 6pm: Sunny intervals, around 17°C; below 5% chance of rain
England vs Pakistan 3rd Test: PreviewÂ
England head into the final Test with the series already secured after two emphatic victories. They won the opener at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, after making 409 and bowling Pakistan out for 171 and 135. Rain did cost a significant amount of playing time in that Test, with more than half a day’s play lost, but England still finished the match inside three days.
The second Test at Lord’s followed a similar pattern. Rain badly disrupted Day 3, when only 24.5 overs were possible, but England eventually completed a 194-run victory to seal the series 2-0.
Pakistan will therefore be desperate for a stronger performance in Birmingham, while England will be chasing a clean sweep under Joe Root.Â
