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Sports Mole previews the second match of the Test series between England and India at Edgbaston, including predictions and team news.

Following an impressive victory at Headingley, England will be hoping to take a 2-0 lead in their ongoing series against India when they head to Edgbaston this week for the second Test.

There is a chance of rain before the 11:00 start on July 2, but improving conditions are expected to allow mostly uninterrupted play in Birmingham over the coming week.

Match preview

India would have been bitterly disappointed and perhaps somewhat bewildered by how they lost their opening match of the series at Headingley, having dominated proceedings for the majority of the five-day contest.Â

No team had ever lost a Test match after scoring five individual centuries, until Shubman Gill’s side did in Leeds, where tons from the captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and a pair from the irrepressible Rishabh Pant proved futile.

A major contributing factor to the defeat was India dropping five catches during England’s first innings – the most the team has grassed in five years – including key misses that allowed Ollie Pope (from 60 to 106), Ben Duckett (15 to 62) and Harry Brook (58 to 99) to go on to post significant scores.

Another factor behind Indiaâ€s defeat was a batting collapse, as they lost seven wickets for 41 after Gill fell to Shoaib Bashir in the first inning, and that pattern was repeated in the second innings, when the side crumbled from 334/4 to 364 all out after Brydon Carse bowled KL Rahul.

Given the result in the first match, India now also face a conundrum around Jasprit Bumrahâ€s workload management, as the worldâ€s top-ranked fast bowler, who claimed five wickets in the first innings at Leeds, intends to play only three of the five Tests, which could leave the attack signifincantly less threatening in his absence in Birmingham.Â

Meanwhile, starting day five of the first Test at 21/0, England steadily got to 117/0 by lunch, maintaining a measured scoring rate of four runs per over while successfully negotiating their main threats, Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Englandâ€s Bazball made its first true impression right here at Edgbaston in 2022 when the Three Lions chased down a record 378 against India, and now they return to the same venue to face the same opponents in the second Test of this year’s series.

While Jonny Bairstow was the embodiment of Bazball during its early days at the top of the order, that mantle now seems to belong to Duckett, whose brilliant 149 anchored Englandâ€s largely comfortable chase of 371 – their second-highest in Test history – against India at Headingley last week.

Indiaâ€s rising star, Jaiswal, is the only opener above Duckett in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, and there is certainly a solid case to be made that the English left-hander is currently among the best all-format batters in the game.

Englandâ€s record at Edgbaston will also add to their confidence of going 2-0 up in the series, as they have won 30 of the 56 Test matches played at the venue, while only losing 11 and playing out 15 draws.Â

Team News

Jofra Archer was recalled to the England squad for the second Test against India, but the Three Lions†speedster left the camp over the weekend to attend to a family emergency and has been ruled out for the Edgbaston clash.Â

Ben Stokes has opted to go with an unchanged lineup for this match, with the pace trio of Chris Woakes, â Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue retained, while Bashir will serve as the primary spin option.Â

As mentioned earlier, the main uncertainty heading into this match for India revolves around Bumrahâ€s availability and whether they possess the bowling strength to take 20 wickets in his absence.

In the event that the worldâ€s top fast bowler is unable to feature at Edgbaston, Arshdeep Singh is the most likely to be entrusted with the new ball alongside Siraj following another impressive performance at the Indian Premier League this year.Â

Pant will be hoping to accomplish a significant feat in this match, as his back-to-back centuries at Headingley saw him move to joint-third for the most tons by an Indian batter against England, now level on five with Virat Kohli, one behind former India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and two off the legendary duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid on seven apiece.Â

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England squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

India squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

Series so far

Test 1 of 3: England won by five wickets

India – 471 & 364

England – 465 & 373/5

We say: England to win

While India’s top order batted extremely well in the first Test, they struggled to contain England with the ball in hand in the second innings, which allowed the home team to romp to victory fairly comfortably in the end.Â

Given that Bumrah is likely to be left out of this match as part of his workload management, India may struggle to make inroads against their opponentâ€s top order, and we feel that the Three Lions will take full advantage en route to a 2-0 series lead.Â

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England take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series with India with a near-miraculous run chase to record a five-wicket victory over India at Headingley.

England have pulled off one of the all-time great Test match victories in earning a five-wicket win over India at Headingley.

Tasked with chasing down 371, Ben Stokes‘s side made relatively light work of their target for one of the highest run chases in history.

Not only did it represent the second highest chase in England’s Test history, it was the first time that a team with five individual hundreds had ever suffered a defeat in a Test match.

Most importantly, a 1-0 lead has been established in the best-of-five series, India left with much to ponder after they were once on 430-3 in their first innings.

Starting on 21-0, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set the tone with a majestic opening partnership of 188, India only making the breakthrough shortly after a rain delay.

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ENGLAND CHASE DOWN 371 AT HEADINGLEY! ???????? pic.twitter.com/LAXlMGL1y0

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 24, 2025

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Root brings England home

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While Crawley went for 65, Duckett continued along his merry way, reaching 149 from 170 deliveries that featured 21 fours and one six.

Harry Brook being dismissed for a first-ball duck set the cat amongst the pigeons, Shardul Thakur’s double salvo leaving England on 253-4 and still requiring 118 runs.

Stokes and Joe Root would steady the ship, the skipper making 33 from 51 balls before his exit from the scene of his greatest moment six years ago.

Root, as you would expect, stood firm and along with Jamie Smith, whose composure exceeded his minimal experience at this level, got England home with wickets and time to spare.

On his home ground, Root made 53 from 84 and Smith 44 from 55, two sixes coming off what proved to be the final over as England made 373-5 at a run-rate of 4.54, adding yet another chapter into the Baz-ball folklore.

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Sports Mole previews the World Test Championship final clash between South Africa and Australia, including predictions and team news.

On Wednesday, our attention turns to the home of cricket, Lordâ€s, where the ICC World Test Championship final will get underway between South Africa and Australia.Â

The Proteas will be making their debut appearance in the WTC final after finishing third in the previous cycle, while the team from Down Under are the defending champions.Â

Match preview

South Africa booked their spot in this weekâ€s blockbuster final by finishing top of the World Test Championship standings, while riding the momentum of seven consecutive victories in the longest format of the game.Â

The Proteas got their WTC cycle off to a poor start, drawing at home to India and losing 2-0 to New Zealand, but they then rediscovered their rhythm, securing series victories over the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.Â

Despite finishing top of the standings, though, South Africa enter the final as underdogs, with many arguing that they benefited from a favourable schedule, having avoided the likes of Australia and England en route to the Lordâ€s showpiece.Â

Temba Bavumaâ€s side took on Zimbabwe in preparation for this match, with Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and the skipper himself all notching up half-centuries, while Kagiso Rabada looked in great shape, bowling with genuine pace and aggression.Â

For South Africa, the WTC final is about more than just winning the coveted Championship Mace or pocketing the whopping $3.6m in prize money – it is an opportunity to end their long-standing drought in menâ€s ICC events, as they have not tasted success since the ICC Knockout Trophy back in 1998.Â

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Meanwhile, the reigning WTC champions, Australia, arrive at the home of cricket to defend the title they won against India in 2023, and remain a formidable side with their core largely unchanged two years later.

Led by Pat Cummins, the Aussies clinched an impressive 3-1 series victory over India in the Border-Gavaskar trophy earlier this year and were arguably the standout team of the 2023–2025 World Test Championship cycle.

The Baggy Greens won 13 of their 19 Tests during the WTC cycle and remained unbeaten in all six series during that period, during which they faced England, Pakistan, the West Indies, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka.Â

However, after starting their preparations in Kent, reports in the lead-up to this match claimed that the Aussies suffered a blow in their training plans, as they were denied permission to train at Lordâ€s on Saturday but were allowed access to the ground on Sunday.Â

Australia dominate the head-to-head standings against the Proteas, winning 54 of the 101 matches between the sides, including two victories in the three games played at neutral venues.Â

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Team News

Shukri Conrad will have a few selection decisions to make in his bowling lineup for this match, but one player who is almost guaranteed to feature for the Proteas with the new ball is Kagiso Rabada.Â

The right-arm quick boasts the best bowling average at Lordâ€s among all fast bowlers set to feature in the WTC final, having claimed 13 wickets at 19.38 across two Tests at the venue, and with 47 wickets at an average of 19.97 from 10 Tests in the WTC cycle, he currently holds the ICCâ€s number two ranking in the format, edging out both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

The imposing figure of left-armer Marco Jansen has broken into the top 10 of the Test bowling rankings in recent times and could pose a serious threat to Australia’s batters with his steep bounce and sharp pace with the new ball.Â

With David Warner now retired, Andrew McDonaldâ€s biggest decision in his batting lineup will be around whether to insert 19-year-old Sam Konstas or the experienced Marnus Labuschagne at the top of the order opposite Usman Khawaja.

Khawaja leads Australiaâ€s run-scoring in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle, amassing 1,422 runs across 19 Tests at an average of 41.82, highlighted by two centuries and six fifties, including a career-best 232 in the innings victory over Sri Lanka at Galle earlier this year.

Another big call will have to be made around who will complete the Aussies’ pace attack between Scott Boland and Hazlewood in support of skipper Cummins and Mitchell Starc.Â

Hazlewood is seen as the favourite to get the nod, having bagged 57 wickets in 13 Tests during the 2023-2025 cycle, while he also led the Royal Challengers Bangaloreâ€s bowling unit in their Indian Premier League triumph last month, notching up 22 wickets in 12 games.Â

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South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

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We say: Australia to win

While South Africa ended the 2023-2025 WTC cycle top of the standings, there were question marks around their campaign schedule, during which they sidestepped two of the ‘big three†en route to the final.Â

The last time the Proteas and the Aussies met in the longest format, the team from Down Under emerged victorious with a 2-0 series win, and we feel they will retain their WTC title at Lordâ€s this week.Â

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Sports Mole provides all the information you need to know ahead of the World Test Championship fina 2025 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, including a look at the squads and when the match will take place.

The 2025 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final is now within touching distance, with South Africa and Australia set to face off at the iconic Lordâ€s Cricket Ground in London. The Proteas will be making their debut in a WTC final this year, while the Baggy Greens are the defending champions, having beaten India in the final in 2023.Â

Here, Sports Mole will provide a breakdown of all the key information you will need ahead of the final, which will run from June 11 to 15, with a reserve day set aside on June 16.

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WTC 2025 Final Match Details:

Fixture: South Africa vs Australia

Dates: June 11–15, 2025 (Reserve Day: June 16)

Venue: Lordâ€s Cricket Ground, London

Start Time: 10:30 BST

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How South Africa and Australia reached the Final:

South Africa:

South Africa began their road to the final with a commanding innings victory over India at Centurion in December 2023. The Proteas suffered a setback thereafter, losing 2-0 to New Zealand, but bounced back with a series win over the West Indies and a 2-0 sweep in Bangladesh.Â

Captain Temba Bavuma led from the front in a home series win against Sri Lanka, and a 2-0 victory over Pakistan, highlighted by Ryan Rickelton’s double century, secured their spot in the final. They topped the WTC standings with a points percentage of 69.44%.

Australia:Â

Meanwhile, Australiaâ€s WTC title defence began with their 2-2 draw in the Ashes against old foes England before they clean-swept Pakistan 3-0, drew 1-1 against the West Indies Down Under, and beat New Zealand 2-0 to keep their final hopes alive.Â

Facing India in a five-Test series, the Aussies overcame an opening match loss to win the series 3-1, with Scott Boland‘s exceptional performance in the final Test at the SCG proving crucial. They concluded their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka, finishing second in the standings with a points percentage of 67.54%.

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WTC 2025 Final Squads

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy

Australia:

Pat Cummins (c), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann

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Prize money and trophy

The ICC has significantly increased the prize money for the 2025 WTC Final, with the winning team now set to receive $3.6m, more than double the $1.6m awarded to the 2023 champions, while the runners-up will earn $2.1m.

In addition to the monetary reward, the champions will be presented with the ICC Test Championship Mace, symbolising their status as the world’s premier Test team.

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How to Watch the WTC Final 2025

Fans around the world can catch the action live through various broadcasters:

United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Go

South Africa: SuperSport (TV and DSTV App)

Australia: Channel 7 and 7Plus

India: Star Sports (TV) and Disney+ Hotstar (Streaming)

United States & Canada: Willow TV

New Zealand: Sky Sport and Sky Go

Other Regions: ICC.tv

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Sports Mole previews the one-off Test between England and Zimbabwe, scheduled to get underway on Thursday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Test cricket is set to return to Trent Bridge this week, with England playing host to Zimbabwe in a four-day one-off match which gets underway on Thursday.

Almost two years after being invited to play a Test match in England, Zimbabwe have finally managed to make the trip, marking he first time these sides will meet in the longest format of the game since 2003.

Match preview

© Imago

Ben Stokes and his squad are set to embark on an intense and highly competitive summer, with Team India also slated to visit the UK for a five-match Test series, which gets underway on June 20.

While most expect that the Three Lions should have few problems in winning this match, they will be eager to deliver a commanding performance and set the tone early, as they build toward the Ashes in November.

In terms of selection, despite several high-profile batting collapses in recent times, England’s top order remains largely unchanged, with the selectors seemingly prioritising continuity over form, albeit questionably.

That is especially evident with the selection of Zak Crawley, who has not scored a Test ton since 2023 against the Baggy Greens and averaged a mere 8.66 in the team’s last series against New Zealand last year.

As for the head-to-head standings, England and Zimbabwe have faced each other in six Test matches, with the Three Lions winning three and the other three ending in draws – Zimbabwe are still in search of their first Test victory against the Brits.

© Imago

Meanwhile, the visitors are entering their most pivotal year in over a decade, as financial stability has returned to a large extent at the administrative level, resulting in the team looking forward to 11 Tests in 2025 – the joint-most among all 12 ICC full member nations.

Zimbabwe will head into this week’s one-off Test against England following a 138-run loss to a little-known Professional County Club Select XI, having failed to survive the final day in Leicester.

Chasing a target of 392 after the PCC XI declared at 464/7 early on the final day, Zimbabwe quickly stumbled to 51 for 4 just after lunch, with Hampshire’s Eddie Jack dismantling three of the top four.

Zimbabwe, who fielded 13 players in the match, had to settle for a productive four-day workout that featured first-innings half-centuries from opener Brian Bennett and Sean Williams, along with a five-wicket haul from left-arm bowler Newman Nyamhuri.

Although they have won only one of their last 12 Tests (with two draws and nine losses), Zimbabwe’s bowling attack has claimed 70 wickets in matches this year, fueling optimism within the camp for a solid showing this one.

Team News

© Imago

Essex fast bowler Sam Cook, who has taken 10 wickets in his last three County Championship matches this season, is set to make his Test debut for England following his impressive recent form.

Stokes is back from injury for the first time since December 2023 to strengthen the middle order, while Joe Root continues to anchor the England batting lineup as its cornerstone.

However, the Three Lions have been handed a few setbacks in the lead-up to this match, especially in the bowling department, with Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Brydon Carse out injured, while Jofra Archer is still away at the IPL.

While the match against the PCC XI was a bit of a disappointment for Zimbabwe, from a batting standpoint, there were several positives, with Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga and Nick Welch each registering at least one half-century during the match.

Adding to the visitors’ Test experience under the leadership of 39-year-old captain Craig Ervine is Sikandar Raza, who departed the Pakistan Super League on Monday to fly to Nottingham for only his second Test match of 2025.

England squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, James Rew, Shoaib Bashir, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Samuel James Cook, Josh Tongue

Zimbabwe squad: Craig Ervine, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Clive Madande, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi

© PA Photos

We say: England to win

While England have not been at their best in the longest format in recent times, winning two of their last five Tests, we feel they will be too strong for the visitors in this match, and should secure a fairly straightforward victory.

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At just $349 (USD), the PongBot Nova S Pro promises to be the affordable table tennis robot that can replace a human training partner. But can a budget-friendly robot really deliver the consistent practice that players need?

I’ve spent the last month putting this claim to the test, logging over 50 hours of intense practice sessions across every skill level. As both a club player and coach, I’ve experienced the frustration of inconsistent training partners and limited practice time – the exact problems a table tennis robot promises to solve.

Too often though, cheap robots end up sitting in a cupboard collecting dust because they simply donâ€t get close to the quality of training a human partner can provide. Could the Nova S Pro be a good value robot thatâ€s actually useful?

This comprehensive review breaks down everything you need to know before investing in the Nova S Pro. From initial setup to advanced features, real-world performance testing, and comparisons with other robots, I’ll help you decide if this is the training solution you’ve been looking for – or if you should keep looking.

PongBot Nova S Pro REVIEW SUMMARY

After 50+ hours of testing, the PongBot Nova S Pro ($349) proves to be a thoughtfully designed table tennis robot that brings premium features to an accessible price point.

The robot excels with its excellent build quality, sophisticated app control, and flexible placement options that enable realistic training scenarios. Its consistent ball delivery and quick 2-minute setup make it particularly appealing for home and club use.

While the Nova S Pro requires manual adjustment for sidespin variations and lacks a ball recycling system, these compromises feel reasonable given the price point.

Perfect for: Any home and club players who are looking for a great robot without spending thousands of dollars.

Benefits

Excellent value at $349

Advanced app with extensive programming features

Quick 2-minute setup

Flexible placement options on table

Consistent ball delivery

Drawbacks

No ball recycling system

Basic remote control

Unable to adjust trajectory / spin direction during drills

Page Contents (Quick Links)

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Who Makes The PongBot Nova S Pro?

If youâ€re going to spend a good chunk of your savings on a table tennis robot, you want to trust itâ€s being made by people who know what theyâ€re doing.

The PongBot Nova S Pro is manufactured by a company called “Shanghai Future Mind Co.†based in (you guessed it) China. They started in 2018 and secured funding led by Qualcommâ€s venture arm (the American semiconductor people) that invests in sports technology companies. Having a major tech investor on board suggests there’s serious engineering expertise behind these robots.

Whilst they may not be a major legacy table tennis brand, itâ€s fascinating to see a new tech-focused business entering the table tennis world.

Theyâ€ve already built some of the most advanced table tennis robots in the world including their flagship M-One that actually has a racket on the end of an arm. Itâ€s pretty damn impressive, albeit retails at $15,000 USD so itâ€s (probably) not for at-home use.

So, when the PongBot team reached out and asked if I was willing to test their entry-level robot, it was an offer I couldnâ€t pass up. Full transparency: they sent me the robot free of charge, but I made it clear they would have zero editorial control over my review, just like everything we publish here at Racket Insight.

Robot Specs

• Mobile App?: Yes
• Ball Frequency: 5~120 Balls per Minute
• Spin Settings: Top, Top/Side, Side
• Speed Ranges:2 – 15m/s
• Physical Dimensions:: 46 x 34 x 17.5 cm
• Weight:4 kg (8.8l bs)
• Warranty: 1 Year

Key Features

The most important things you need to know about the Nova S Pro are that itâ€s a fixed-base robot that sits on the table, uses a manual rotational spin system, and doesnâ€t have an re-cycling hopper / net system.

What does that practically mean? Three key things:

1. The robot can be placed anywhere on the table to create drills/shots at any realistic angle, although the balls do arrive quite quickly compared to robots that sit behind the end of the table.
2. Youâ€re limited to the number of balls (around 150) that can fit in the hopper, unless you have a friend running around picking up balls and replenishing as you go.
3. You can create all kinds of spin variations but you need to manually rotate the robotâ€s head to change between top/bottom and side spin variations.

If thatâ€s all you read, you might be wondering what makes this robot so great? Let me tell you, this robot does so many incredible things that those limitations start to feel very small.

Letâ€s dive in.

Basic Functions

This robot does everything you need a robot to do:

Speed Control: Adjustable from 1m/s (very slow) to 15m/s (very fast), allowing everything from gentle beginner-friendly feeds to professional-level practice.

Spin Variation: There are 9 ‘spin types†you can generate by manually rotating the robotâ€s head – no spin, topspin, backspin, left spin, right spin, left-top spin, left-back spin, right-top spin, and right back spin. This is because you can rotate the head at every interval of 45 degrees.

Frequency Adjustment: The Nova S Pro can feed balls at a rate of anywhere between 30 and 90 balls per minute. Iâ€m not sure why it can handle such an incredibly high feed-rate, but it can!

Ball Placement Control: The robot can support both fixed position and oscillation modes, meaning you can place the ball anywhere on the table and place balls in different places during the same exercise. Height adjustment allows for both short and deep ball placement (although this is another manual change).

Advanced Features

Programming Memory: The robot can store up to 30 different custom drills in its internal memory. These remain saved even when powered off, which is incredibly convenient for regular training sessions.

Remote Control: A simple but effective remote control comes included, letting you start/stop drills and adjust speed/frequency from your playing position. This might sound basic, but trust me – walking back and forth to the robot gets old fast.

Smartphone App Integration: The free PongBot app (iOS/Android) connects via Bluetooth and offers a more rich experience that the provided remote, including:

• Real-time control of all robot functions
• Pre-made training programs for different skill levels
• Custom drill creation with visual ball placement
• The ability to share drills with other users
• Training statistics and progress tracking

Custom Drill Creation: This is where things get interesting. You can create complex sequences combining up to 5 different ball placements per drill, with variable speeds and timing within the same sequence. For more advanced exercises, these can even be randomised to make it really tricky.

The ability to save and share custom drills makes the Nova S Pro feel like a much more premium product than its price suggests.

First Impressions & Setup

When the Nova S Pro arrived, I wasnâ€t expecting much based on the packaging. Just a plain cardboard box straight from China. But inside? Impressively well-packaged. Loads of padding, which is always a good sign for delicate equipment like this.

My first impression upon unboxing was very positive. The robot itself looks very futuristic, almost like it belongs in a sci-fi film.

Unlike some budget-friendly robots that feel like flimsy plastic toys, the Nova S Pro has a reassuring solidity to it whilst still remaining lightweight. The construction uses quality materials that inspire confidence the robot isn’t going to fall apart after a few sessions (spoiler: it didnâ€t).

One of the clever design features is how compact the whole unit is. The feeding mechanism and head unit slot neatly into the ball hopper, making it surprisingly portable and easy to store. This is particularly important if you’re planning to use/store it in a home setting where space might be limited.

What’s In The Box

• Nova S Pro robot unit
• Hopper
• Remote control
• Power adapter
• User manual

Notable omissions are a carrying case and collection net system, which you might want to factor into your budget if you’re planning to transport the robot regularly or donâ€t want to spend half your time picking up balls.

First-Time Setup

The robot is incredibly easy to put together. Just slot the hopper on top of the robot unit and insert the power cable in the back. Done in 30 seconds.

The instruction manual is clear and includes helpful diagrams, though I suspect most users won’t need to reference it much beyond the initial setup.

The power cable extends to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), which is workable but Iâ€d prefer it to be a little longer. If you’re planning to have someone play on the robot’s side of the table, you’ll likely need to position your table closer to a power outlet than you’d prefer for optimal movement space.

I hit my first sizable snag when I realized the plug was a rounded 2-pin design (EU-Type) thatâ€s not compatible with Australiaâ€s sockets. A quick dash out to a nearby hardware store solved that problem for me. Depending on your region, PongBot send the robot with either a US-Type, UK-Type, or EU-Type plug so most people wonâ€t have the same problem as me.

Basic Practice Sessions

My first priority was testing how the Nova S Pro handles the fundamentals. After all, if a robot can’t deliver consistent, reliable basic practice, all the fancy features in the world won’t matter.

Single-Position Consistency

I started by testing fixed-position feeds, and I was genuinely impressed.

When set to a single position, the Nova S Pro delivers balls with remarkable consistency – easily matching the reliability of robots twice its price. Over a 100-ball test at medium speed, 95% of balls landed within a 10cm diameter circle. That’s more than accurate enough for focused practice.

I set up a sequence that switched between topspin and backspin shots, a combination that often trips up cheaper robots. The Nova S Pro handled these transitions seamlessly.

Better yet, the robot’s head unit features LED indicators that change color based on the type of spin being delivered, making it easy to anticipate what’s coming next. This small but clever design touch proved incredibly useful during practice sessions.

Multi-Position Training

I moved on to setting up multi-stage drills that included shots from different sides of the table. Yet again the PongBot Nova S Pro handled this with ease.

The robot’s head moves quickly and accurately to deliver balls to multiple positions with impressive reliability. In my testing of a basic two-position drill (alternating between forehand and backhand corners), the placement consistency remained strong with about 90% of balls landing within a 10cm diameter circle at each position.

What really caught my attention was how smoothly the robot transitions between positions. There’s no jerky movement or long pauses – the head unit glides from point to point with a fluid motion that allows for natural timing between shots. This is crucial because it means you can maintain a proper rhythm during practice, something cheaper robots often struggle with.

Basic Drills Performance

The robot really shines with fundamental drills like:

• Forehand loops from the middle
• Backhand drives from the corner
• Push practice with light backspin
• Basic footwork patterns between 2-3 positions

What impressed me most was how natural the ball trajectory feels. Unlike some cheaper robots that shoot balls with an awkward, artificial arc, the Nova S Pro is able to create realistic trajectories that closely mimic human shots.

Hands-On With The Remote

In order to set up any exercises, you need to use either the included remote, or the free PongBot app (available on iOS and Android). Letâ€s start with the remote.

I like the design, with the unit feeling comfortable to hold with 3 different button ‘sectionsâ€:

1. A large central orange button to ‘select†options.
2. A 4-directional ring around the central button for navigation.
3. Two buttons to go ‘forward†or ‘back†on certain screens.

The screen itself is a small, simple black-and-white screen similar to the kind you might see on a Kindle, except without any touch-screen capabilities.

Itâ€s possible to create custom exercises, start/stop the robot, manage frequency and speed, as well as change some core settings. However, the interface itself can be a bit fiddly due to the limited screen size.

With the app providing an easier experience and quicker configuration of exercises, I honestly think the remote is a little redundant.

Giving The Robot A Thorough Test

To fully test the robot, I had to get the mobile app installed and connected. Where they may have compromised on the remote, there arenâ€t any compromises on the app.

Itâ€s one of the most impressive ‘robot†apps Iâ€ve ever used.

One prerequisite to using the app is the creation of an account, which means setting up a username/password and sharing your email address. Whilst I know some people will be annoyed by this, itâ€s a one-time activity and very easy to complete.

The downside is for clubs where many people will be using the robot. Either each person needs to register their own account and connect to the robot when theyâ€re using it, or the club will need to provide a single shared device thatâ€s kept with the robot.

Connecting Your Robot

Simply plug your robot in and open up the app. Youâ€ll see an option to connect via Bluetooth and that allows you access to control the robot. The lights on the front will switch from flashing to a solid blue.

Each robot can be individually named if you want to have multiple PongBot robots around. The same app works for their entire range.

Drill Options

When trying to start a drill, you have 3 main options to choose from:

1. Programmed Drills (Standard)
2. Programmed Drills (Near-Net)
3. Custom Drills

The standard drills assume youâ€ll place the robot either at the end-line, or next to the net in the middle of the table. If you want to run drills from any of the corners, youâ€ll need to use the Custom Drills setting.

Pre-Configured Drills

Both the Standard & Near-Net drill options come with a variety of ‘Basicâ€, ‘Combinedâ€, and ‘Complex†drills pre-programmed in the app so you can get started with drills straight away.

The difference between these is simple:

1. Basic Drills – 1 Shot (e.g. Forehand Push)
2. Combined Drills – 2 Shots (e.g. Backhand Loop, Forehand Drive)
3. Complex Drills – 3 Shots (e.g. Backhand Loop, Backhand Drive, Forehand Drive) or ‘Random†drills.

Letâ€s examine a Combined drill by testing out the ‘Loop(B)-Drive(B)†option. You can see there are lots of different settings you can configure for each exercise. These include:

1. Rotation Type – All pre-programmed drills are set to the Robot head unitâ€s standard ‘Top & Under†state, which canâ€t be changed.
2. Serve Mode – You can set the robot to run for an agreed amount of time, or number of sets.
3. Difficulty Level – I must admit struggling to understand this setting, but the only thing it seemed to affect was the frequency of balls with 3-star difficulty shooting balls out very quickly one after another. This made for a tricky falkenberg drill!
4. Sequence – Iâ€m not sure why youâ€d choose a non-random drill and then select ‘Random†here. I almost always left this as ‘Sequentialâ€.
5. Dominant Hand – When testing this, I didnâ€t notice a huge difference. The ball seems to slightly favor where the dominant hand would expect the user to be positioned.

The ‘Calibration†option allows you to adjust the placement of the ball by running a quick test of the exercises. Through a simple interface, you can adjust all the shots to be shorter/longer or further left/right.

I found ‘Calibration†to be an incredibly handy feature as the app didnâ€t always have the perfect default settings to put the ball in the right place on the table.

Custom Drills

Creating custom drills is probably my favorite feature of the PongBot Nova S Pro.

You start by telling the app where youâ€re placing the robot based on 9 preset positions and an angle. Itâ€s one of the huge advantages of having a robot thatâ€s not fixed to the end of the table.

Once youâ€re in the customization screen, it can be very overwhelming and take a few attempts to get used to the interface. Once I got my head around the interface, I saw it split into 3 different sections:

1. Rotation & Ball Height – Choosing the angle of the robotâ€s head to set the type of spin, and the ball height over the net.
2. Number of Shots – The customizer includes the ability to chain 5 different shots together, each of which is displayed dynamically on a top-down overview of the table as well as a side-view of the ball trajectory.
3. Ball Settings – Set the drop point (how far the ball is expected to land), rotation type, speed, spin, and frequency of each individual shot.

I had so much fun configuring different exercises. The options really are almost unlimited for creating sequential and randomized exercises that are fantastic for training.

The only downside I found was that what happened in the images didnâ€t always match up with real life. Settings that showed the ball landing perfectly on the table ended up being shot over the end and required some further tweaking to get them in the right place.

I also tested pushing the robotâ€s spin capabilities to the extreme. I set a backspin ball up to 10 and watched in horror as the robot spit a ball out directly towards my face at the other end of the table.

No, my face wasnâ€t anywhere near the table level. This ball came out and went straight up due to the heavy backspin.

I donâ€t feel itâ€s a major issue, but always keep in my mind that the robot doesnâ€t have any guardrails to keep balls always on the table. Itâ€s easy to configure shots that nobody would ever want coming at them.

Managing Drills

Once started, the app will show you how far through the exercise you are, and give you the ability to pause or stop the robot at any time.

The stop button has a small 1-2 second delay to the robot which means it can spit a few extra balls out after youâ€ve tried to stop it. Thatâ€s not really a major problem though.

Limitations Of The PongBot Nova S

There are 4 limitations I found throughout my testing. Overall, these limitations don’t necessarily make the Nova S Pro a bad choice – far from it.

However, they do highlight where PongBot has made compromises to achieve its competitive price point. For most recreational players and even club-level competitors, these limitations won’t significantly impact your training.

At this price point, Iâ€d honestly expect many more limitations.

1) Spin and Speed Constraints

The robot’s maximum spin rate of 60 rotations per second, while adequate for 99% of players and exercises youâ€d want to do, falls short of the kind of spin advanced players can generate.

To put this in perspective, professional players can generate significantly more spin, particularly in their loop shots. If you’re training to compete at a professional level, you might find the spin intensity lacking for certain drills.

Both myself and my training partner are ex-regional standard players, neither of us felt like we needed any additional spin for it to feel realistic.

2) Manual Spin Adjustments

One of the more frustrating limitations is the need to manually rotate the robot’s head to change spin types.

While you can create drills combining topspin and underspin, adding sidespin variations requires physically adjusting the robot.

This means you can’t program drills that automatically alternate between different spin types, limiting the complexity of your practice sessions.

3) Fixed Trajectory Per Drill

A significant drawback is the robot’s inability to vary ball trajectory within a single drill.

The head height remains fixed throughout each programmed sequence, which means you can’t combine serves with loops or practice transitioning between different shot heights without creating separate drills.

This is particularly limiting when trying to simulate realistic match scenarios where opponents naturally mix up their shot heights.

4) Control Interface Compromises

While the smartphone app provides an excellent user experience, the included remote control feels like an afterthought.

It’s less responsive and more cumbersome to use than the app, which could be problematic in situations where you don’t have access to a smartphone or tablet.

The remote’s small screen and limited button layout make it challenging to access the robot’s full feature set effectively.

Is The PongBot Nova S Good Value?

At $349 (5% off direct with code RI5OFF), the Nova S Pro sits in an interesting position in the table tennis robot market. It’s priced well below premium options like the Butterfly Amicus series ($1000+) while offering features that often aren’t available until you reach much higher price points.

To put this in perspective, here’s what you’re getting for your money:

• Bluetooth connectivity and sophisticated app control
• Custom drill programming with up to 5 shots per sequence
• Flexible placement options (unlike fixed-position robots)
• Solid build quality from a tech-focused manufacturer
• Consistent ball delivery suitable for club-level players

The value proposition becomes even clearer when you consider what’s typically available in this price range.

Most sub-$500 robots are fixed-position units with basic remote controls and limited programming capabilities. The Nova S Pro’s app integration and customization features alone put it in a different league.

The Real Cost Consideration

If youâ€re looking to buy the Nova S Pro, itâ€s worth considering these additional costs:

• Ball collection net (recommended, $50-100)
• Carrying case if you plan to transport it ($50 as part of their ‘Deluxe†set)
• Extra training balls ($20-40 for a quality set)

Even with these additions, you’re still looking at a total investment under $500 – significantly less than most competitive options with similar features.

Value Verdict

For $349, this thing punches way above its weight. Sure, it has its limits, but if youâ€re looking for serious training without breaking the bank, the Nova S Pro is a no-brainer. Youâ€re getting 80% of a $1000 robot for a third of the price—thatâ€s just a crazy deal.

The compromises it makes (manual spin adjustment, no recycling system) are thoughtfully chosen to maintain core training functionality while hitting an accessible price point.

If you’re a professional player or coach needing maximum spin rates and automatic variation, you’ll want to look at more expensive options. But for everyone else – from beginners to serious club players – the Nova S Pro offers a compelling mix of features and performance at a price that’s hard to beat.

Final Verdict

After spending a month with the PongBot Nova S Pro, I’m convinced itâ€s a fantastic step forward in affordable table tennis robots. While it’s not perfect, it successfully makes features previously reserved for much more expensive machines affordable to more players. Iâ€m a big fan of that.

Who Should Buy It

Intermediate Club Players: Those wanting to develop consistency and specific techniques

Serious Beginners: Players transitioning from basic to intermediate level who need structured practice

Home Users: Anyone with limited space who practices alone frequently

Budget-Conscious Clubs: Anywhere needing a reliable training tool without premium pricing

It’s less suitable for professional players requiring maximum spin variation or large training centers needing continuous operation.

Real-World Performance

In practical use, the Nova S Pro has proved itself remarkably capable.

The initial setup process takes under 2 minutes, making it convenient for players who need to store and reassemble the robot frequently.

During operation, the robot runs quietly enough for home and apartment use without disturbing neighbors. The solid construction and quality materials suggest good long-term durability, while the smart features and app integration make solo practice sessions both engaging and productive.

The main compromises (manual spin adjustment, no ball recycling, limited drill complexity) are thoughtfully chosen to maintain core functionality while hitting an accessible price point.

Final Recommendation

At $349, the Nova S Pro delivers exceptional value for money. It offers roughly 80% of what $1000+ robots provide at one-third of the price. While it won’t replace your regular training partner completely, it’s more than capable of helping players develop from beginner to advanced club level.

Buy it if:

• You want smart features at an accessible price
• You need flexible placement options
• You’re focused on fundamental skill development
• You value build quality and reliability

Look elsewhere if:

• You need professional-level spin intensity
• Automatic ball recycling is essential
• You require complex multi-spin sequences
• You need advanced oscillation features

Honestly, this thing just works. If you want to train properly and donâ€t want to break the bank, Iâ€d get the Nova S Pro in a heartbeat. It’s a capable, well-built robot that punches well above its weight class in terms of features and performance.

David’s been playing Table Tennis since he was 12, earning his first coaching license in 2012. He’s played in national team & individual competitions, although he prefers the more relaxed nature of a local league match! After earning his umpiring qualification in England, David moved to Australia and started Racket Insight to share information about the sport he loves.

Blade: Stiga WRB Offensive Classic | Forehand: Calibra LT | Backhand: Xiom Musa
Playstyle: The All-Rounder

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Sports Mole challenges you to name the leading Test run scorers in history, with 15 players having gone past 10,000 runs.

Steven Smith became the 15th member of the 10,000-run club earlier this week during Australia‘s Test match with Sri Lanka.

The 35-year-old has already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest Test players of all time with 41 half-centuries and 35 tons during his illustrious career.

On this occasion, Smith recorded a knock of 141 from 251 balls to help put his nation in control in the first Test match in Galle.

In doing so, Smith strengthened his position of fourth in the all-time Australian listings, still having some way to go to break into the top three.

With the ongoing series in Sri Lanka featuring just two matches, and with Australia not back in action in the five-day format until June, Smith faces a wait before making any further progress up the standings.

Nevertheless, still playing at an average of 56.33, the argument remains that Smith could eventually end his career as the best Test player of all time.

Here, Sports Mole challenges you to name all of the other players to accumulate more than 10,000 runs in the history of Test cricket.

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Sports Mole previews the fourth Test between Australia and India, scheduled to get underway on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A record turnover of over 86,000 cricket fans are expected to fill up the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground for the fourth Test between Australia and India on Boxing Day.

The Border–Gavaskar Trophy hangs in the balance heading to the MCG, with these fierce rivals splitting the first two Tests one win apiece before rain had the last word at the Gabba last week.

Match preview

© Imago

After knocking over India’s final wicket just four overs into the day’s play and establishing a 185-run first-innings lead, Australia launched one last effort to secure victory at the Gabba, declaring at 89 for seven after a chaotic 18 overs in their second innings.

That left India with a target of 275 in a theoretical 54 overs, but only 2.1 overs were possible before bad light forced the players off the field, and rain returned to bring an early end to the match, leaving the teams locked at 1-1 heading to Melbourne.

Securing positive results over the final two Tests of this series will be crucial to both these sides’ hopes of playing in the World Test Championship, with Australia and India currently second and third in the standings respectively behind South Africa at the top.

The Wallabies will enter the fourth Test aiming to maintain their strong record at the MCG, where they have won four of their last five matches, and hold an all-time record of 67 wins, 32 defeats and 17 drawn results in 116 games.

Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Matt Page said in the lead-up to the match that his team have opted to leave more grass on the pitch and revealed that he did not expect much help for spinners, saying “Over the last four of five years, they’ve been more seam-friendly than spin-friendly, so I don’t see that changing here.”

© Imago

Indeed, there has been plenty of talk about the surfaces in Melbourne in recent days, particularly the state of the practice pitches, after comments were made about the stark contrast in the quality of practice facilities allocated to the teams.

Images on social media revealed that the hosts seemed to have been provided new and greener surfaces, while the visitors were allocated noticeably older ones, which led to the likes of Indian paceman Akash Deep raising his concerns on the matter, stating that the practice pitches allocated to his side seemed suited to limited-overs cricket as they lacked bounce.

Deep was also the centre of attention during a press conference over the weekend, when, according to Australian media group 7 News, the Indian team’s decision to send the fast bowler – who has limited proficiency in English – was a strategic move to avoid tough questions from the media.

Their allegations intensified as they claimed the fast bowler notably avoided addressing questions about the ongoing tensions between the two cricketing nations, and when an Australian journalist encouraged an Indian reporter to ask about these tensions, Deep explained that he was uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

Fair to say then, the stage is set for what should be a heated battle in Melbourne, where India has a massive following and a good record in recent times, winning their last two Boxing Day Tests and drawing one before that.

Team News

© Imago

Australia are expected to make at least a couple of changes for the Melbourne Test, with the first being Scott Boland coming in for Josh Hazlewood, who sustained a right calf strain during the match at the Gabba.

The spotlight will also be on 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who is expected to be handed his Test debut at the MCG, having been called up after Nathan McSweeney failed to impress at the top of the order in the first three matches.

For India, the Gabba Test marked the end of an era, with 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his immediate retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a 14-year career with the national team.

Ashwin was left out of the third Test for Nitish Kumar Reddy, but the latter failed to impress, and there is expectation that Washington Sundar will be given the nod this week in hopes of adding a different dimension to Ravindra Jadeja – though there is still a chance that the visitors opt for a fourth pacer instead of two specialist spinners.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (C), Travis Head (VC), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (Wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster

India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar

Series so far

Test 1 of 5: India won by 295 runs
India – 150 & 487/6d
Australia – 104 & 238

Test 2 of 5: Australia win by 10 wickets
India – 180 & 175
Australia – 337 & 19/0

Test 3 of 5: Match Drawn
Australia – 445 & 89/7d
India – 260 & 8/0

© PA Photos

We say: Australia to win

Australia have looked the better side since winning the second Test, evidenced by India’s celebrations after barely avoiding the follow-on at the Gabba, and while the hosts have yet to figure out how to deal with Bumrah, they have done very well to dominate the rest of the visitors’ bowling attack.

India will have massive support in Melbourne, but we feel the Aussies will be able to withstand the pressure and take a lead into the series decider in Sydney in the New Year.

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England tamely succumb to a nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the third and pivotal Test in Rawalpindi, going down by a 2-1 loss in the series.

Pakistan have won the three-match Test series with England after storming to a nine-wicket victory inside three days in Rawalpindi.

Having suffered one of the most embarrassing Test defeats in history in the first of two matches in Multan, Pakistan have since opted for pitches with more turn.

That has given Noman Ali and Sajid Khan the platform to produce sustained, sometimes unplayable spells of spin bowling, the pair once again delivering during Saturday’s play.

All 10 wickets of the second innings were taken by the duo as England succumbed to 112 all out, Pakistan requiring just 3.1 overs to chase down the 36 that were required to complete the comeback series win.

Within seven sessions of winning the toss, England had crumbled to 267 and 112 all out, Pakistan’s burst from the middle order onwards on Friday to make 344 proving pivotal in the context of the match.

Pakistan edge towards victory as Sajid clean bowls Jamie Smith â˜Â︠pic.twitter.com/T1XZ3OsLpO

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 26, 2024

Another England collapse

Resuming on 24-3, it was imperative that Joe Root and Harry Brook put together a lengthy fourth-wicket stand to give England any hope, and they deserve some credit for reaching 66.

Nevertheless, the writing was on the way as Brook (26), Ben Stokes (3) and Jamie Smith (3) all departed in quick succession, Root (33) not far behind them to leave England on 85-7.

Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach both made 10, but there was no answer to Noman (6-42) and Sajid (4-69) as Pakistan set up a routine run chase.

Leach managed to dismiss Saim Ayub for eight, yet that allowed captain Shan Masood to come to the crease and smash 23 from just six deliveries to get Pakistan over the line in style.

For his 134 in Pakistan’s first innings, Saud Shakeel deservedly won man of the match, with Noman and Sajid taking all but one of England’s 20 wickets.

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Sports Mole previews the third and final Test between Pakistan and England, scheduled to get underway on Thursday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

It is still all to play for as we head into the third and final test between Pakistan and England which is set to get underway on Thursday morning at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The series hangs in the balance after the first two matches in Multan were split, with England winning the first and Pakistan levelling proceedings with a victory last week.

Match preview

© Imago

This series as been a bit of a rollercoaster for Pakistan, which began with them making an unwanted piece of history, becoming the first team ever to lose a Test by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in their first knock.

That result extended the Shaheen’s losing streak in Test matches to six in a row and was also their seventh loss on home soil in their last nine, highlighting the difficulties the team have faced in recent times.

In an effort to end their dismal record, the Men in Green took a major gamble in match two, opting to use to same pitch as they did in the first game, and it paid off handsomely, as they pulled off a 152-run series-levelling victory.

The idea behind using the same strip a second time was to bring their spinners more into the match, and it worked a treat. With the help of sharp turn and unpredictable bounce, left-arm spinner Noman Ali took seven of the eight wickets that fell on Friday, finishing with an impressive 8/46 in the innings and match figures of 11/147.

Heading into the series decider, it seems that the hosts are employing similar tactics, with images circulating on social media revealing the use of six patio heaters, two industrial fans and two large windbreaks to dry the pitch and create conditions favorable for spin bowling.

© Imago

Meanwhile, England arrive in Rawalpindi looking to deny Pakistan their first series win since they beat South Africa in 2021, and head coach Brendon McCullum along with captain Ben Stokes conducted a thorough inspection of the pitch ahead of the team’s practice session on Tuesday.

In anticipation for a spin battle, the visitors have made a tactical change to their squad, bringing in leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a third spinning option, alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

Leach, England’s leading wicket-taker in the series, took seven wickets in the first Test before adding another seven in the second match, and he will undoubtedly be Stokes’ key bowler in their effort to clinch the final game.

Fellow spinner Bashir has also shown promise in the series, with five of his six wickets coming in the second Test defeat, suggesting that the 21-year-old is rising to the challenge in the red-ball format and gaining confidence in favourable conditions.

With the bat, Joe Root, regarded as one of the world’s best players of spin, became the Three Lions’ all-time leading Test run-scorer in the opening Test and will likely be tasked with anchoring the innings against what should be a spin-barrage from their opponents.

Team News

© Imago

While Sajid Khan and Noman Ali claimed the headlines in the last match for taking all 20 wickets, debutant Kamran Ghulam‘s 118 off 224 balls in the first innings was equally crucial to the victory, and he will be looking to follow up in this match.

Shan Masood is expected to maintain a similar lineup in this one, though Zahid Mahmood failed to pick up a wicket in the last match and could be forced to make way here, potentially for Mohammad Ali.

As mentioned, England have opted to go with a spin-heavy lineup for this match drafting Rehan Ahmed, who last played against India in Rajkot earlier this year, as a third spin choice to support Leach and Bashir.

The only other confirmed change for the visitors in this match sees Matthew Potts making way for seamer Gus Atkinson, meaning that Stokes remains the only specialist all-rounder in the squad.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Series so far

Test 1 of 3: England won by an innings and 47 runs
Pakistan – 556 & 220
England – 823/7d

Test 2 of 3: Pakistan won by 152 runs
Pakistan – 366 & 221
England – 291 & 144

© PA Photos

We say: England to win

While Pakistan pulled off a sensational comeback win last time out, England are now wise to the challenge and have responded by opting to bring in a third specialist spinner, which could be a crucial factor in this match.

The hosts would have received a huge morale boost from the result in the second match in Multan, but the visitors’ experienced core could be telling in this clutch fixture, and we fancy them to secure this match and the series.

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