XtraTime Web Desk: Pakistan will look to win the final test match of the series against England starting at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Friday, August 21. The visitors are trailing the three test match series 0-1 after losing the first test match by three wickets at Old Trafford. It Azhar Ali’s men fail to win the third test match then it will lose a test series against England for the first time in 10 years.


Pakistan will field a three prong pace attack with Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah all fit and firing for the final test match.


Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq was confident fatigue would not have been an issue in any event, with the former captain, in a blog for the Pakistan Cricket Board's website, writing that "fitness has been an important part of our strategy as a team" since he took charge in September.

Despite little play in the second Test, Misbah was heartened by the determination of Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored with 72, the resilience of Pakistan's top-order in "testing conditions" and the fact an attack featuring leg-spinner Yasir Shah took four wickets.


"The seamers also bowled really well…That last session, even as the game drifted towards a draw, gives us a lot of confidence going into the last Test," Misbah added. "It's a big game and we want to end the series on a good note."


Meanwhile England face another selection dilemma.There will be a strong temptation to stick with the tried and tested pace trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, so effective in the kind of overcast English conditions that are likely to be a factor in the third Test as they were in the second.


Another, immediate, issue is that Friday's match could be played on a used pitch if the weather means the Ageas Bowl ground staff do not have enough time to prepare a fresh surface after the second Test finished on Monday.

3rd Test: Pakistan eye win to level series against England at Southampton