England vs West Indies predictions: Root to steer England home![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
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![Joe Root will look to punish the West Indies once again](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/25072024/bccccbdf-51a0-4689-80f9-3d17bcaa3a0b.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
- Joe Root has scored 68, 14 and 122 in his three innings in this series
- West Indies have lost three of their last four Test matches
- Recommended bet: Joe Root top England first-innings runscorer
It has been one-way traffic in the ongoing Test tussle between England and the West Indies.
The first Test at Lord's, the final of James Anderson's career, went the way of England by an innings and 114 runs.
And while the second Test at Trent Bridge was more evenly matched, England again came up trumps, winning by 241 runs.
The series is now in the bag but a 3-0 series clean sweep is the next target for England, who reconvene with the Windies one last time at Edgbaston, starting on Friday.
The final match provides England with a chance to experiment but seeing the series out is also key, while the Windies will be hoping to build on their improved performance in Nottingham last time out.
Team news
England could make several changes with the Test series already won and the uncapped Dillon Pennington could be drafted into the team.
West Indies can be expected to field the same team as in the second Test after Jason Holder's men put in a much-improved performance from the series opener.
The stats
Joe Root's three totals in this Test series have been 68, 14 and 122.
After falling 2-0 down in this series, the West Indies have now lost three of their last four matches in Test cricket.
Kavem Hodge has impressed for the West Indies in this series, striking 120 off 171 deliveries at Trent Bridge last time out.
![Jason Holder will hope his side can avoid a series whitewash](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/25072024/f3c70296-13a2-4058-a684-7beeba4b0e57.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Prediction
"Bazball" is alive and well for England, with a number of their batters impressing at the crease of late.
It is tough to settle on a top first-innings runscorer pick heading into the third Test, but there is reason to get behind Root, who has found some consistency.
In the first Test at Lord's, Root looked pretty settled, providing England with a decent base with his knock of 68.
And while he fell for just 14 in the first innings at Trent Bridge, he more than made up for it in the second innings with 122.
Root cut a patient figure at the crease in that second Test, putting together his score from 178 balls and striking the boundary ten times.
The West Indies are evidently opponents Root likes to play against, given that he has scored six centuries against them in just 16 Test matches, and he looks like a fine bet to top the scoring charts for England in Birmingham.