England vs. Australia, 3rd Test: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

So far, the 2015 Ashes series has been anything but predictable.

England drew first blood with a resounding win in Cardiff inside four days, only for Australia to bounce back in style and return the favour in the second Test at Lord's.

Now the teams move on to Edgbaston with the scores locked at 1-1 and no one quite knowing what to expect next. If you believe in momentum, Australia are the side that quite clearly has it now.

However, they have won just three of the 13 Ashes Tests played in Birmingham. Their last visit to the venue, which was also the third match of the series, finished in a weather-affected draw in 2009.

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. BST

Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham, England

Live stream and TV info: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), STAR Sport (India) and NowTV (UK streaming service).

Weather: There is the possibility of the odd shower on the opening day of the Test, per BBC Weather. However, the general outlook for the entire match is good, meaning the weather shouldn't ruin the contest.

Overview 

England reacted to the heavy defeat in the second Test by making a change to their top order.

Gary Ballance has lost his place in the side after scoring 134 runs in eight Test innings so far this summer. His replacement is his Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow, though the latter will not take over at three.

Instead, Ian Bell will be pushed up one spot, per BBC Sport. He has been struggling for runs himself: The right-hander has scored just 128 of them in his last 12 Test knocks.

The Warwickshire batsman told BBC Sport: "Whether you're batting three, four or five you've got to score hundreds and I'm looking forward to that challenge. I know that when I play at my best I'm a world-class cricketer."

While Bell is struggling, Bairstow has been in the form of his life. He has scored 980 in the County Championship for Yorkshire so far this summer at an average of 108.88.

The wicketkeeper-batsman's reward is a recall to bat at five in the order, meaning a first Test appearance since he featured in the series finale against Australia in Sydney in January 2014. However, he will not don the gloves—Jos Buttler continues behind the stumps for England.

Steven Finn and Adil Rashid were retained in a 13-man squad for the third Test having not featured at Cardiff or Lord's.

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia's major concern is over their top order, too, albeit for different reasons.

Chris Rogers made 173 in the first innings of the second Test, but the left-handed opener was forced to retire on 49 not out when batting second time around due to dizziness.

The experienced batsman has been going through a series of medical checks to confirm his availability, and team-mate Mitchell Starc is confident Rogers will be fit to play, per Sky Sports: "He seems to have come through it pretty well. I haven't seen him since the net but all reports are that he is good to go."

Rogers, who was struck on the head on Day 2 at Lord's by a bouncer from James Anderson, missed the two-Test series in the West Indies with concussion after being hit in the nets while training in the Caribbean.

If he is not fit to play, Shaun Marsh is the obvious candidate to replace him. Opening the innings alongside David Warner, he scored a hundred in the tour match against Derbyshire last week.

Captain Michael Clarke also enjoyed some time in the middle at Derby, making 44 not out on Day 3 of the fixture.

However, the seam trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, along with first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon, were all rested for the contest following their efforts in back-to-back Tests.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin played against Derbyshire as a batsman only after missing the last Test for personal reasons, per the Guardian.

Peter Nevill took over behind the stumps at Lord's, picking up seven catches and also scoring 45 in his side's huge first innings total of 566 for eight declared. Peter Lalor of the Australian reported that Nevill will keep his place in the Test XI, despite Haddin being available for selection.

The pitch, prepared by groundsman Gary Barwell, will be scrutinised with greater intensity than usual.

So far, Cardiff and Lord's provided slow, low surfaces, but the policy of trying to nullify Australia's pace attack backfired in the second Test. 

Paul Newman of the Mail wrote how Barwell had borrowed lamps normally used for the cultivation of cannabis from West Midlands Police to help dry out a square that has been sodden by the recent band of wet weather that has rolled across Britain. 

Key players

England

Ian Bell has scored 22 Test hundreds in his distinguished career, but right now he could do with some home comforts.

The third Ashes Test would be the ideal time for him to find some form in his own back yard. The selectors have backed him, but their faith is not everlasting. Bell needs runs to justify his continued presence in the side.

Australia

Despite a benign track at Lord's, Mitchell Johnson was still able to rough up England's batsmen in the second Test. That is a worrying sign for the hosts, who will remember all too well how the bowler terrorised them in the last Ashes series, played on Australian soil.

After a below-par start in Cardiff, Johnson was firing on all cylinders in the second Test. He bowled with not just great pace but also impressive accuracy. 

Squads

England

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

Australia

Michael Clarke (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wicketkeeper), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson

All statistics used in the article, unless otherwise stated, are from ESPN Cricinfo