After England suffered an embarrassing 336-run defeat against India at Edgbaston in the second match of the five-match Test series, the hosts are set to deviate from their plan of making flat pitches and maximising their batting strength.

England head coach Brendon McCullum has called for a dramatic change in the nature of the track for the Lord's Test. The former New Zealand cricketer called for a track that has more pace, bounce, and sideways movement for the third Test with the series level at 1-1.

"Something with a bit more pace, a bit more bounce, and maybe a little bit of sideways. It'll be a blockbuster either way, but I think it's going to set up for a cracker - especially if there's plenty of life in it," said McCullum on the track he wants at Lord's.

McCullum also gave a major hint that Jofra Archer will play the third test in what will mark his first Test appearance in more than four years. The last time the speedster played in whites for England was in February 2021 against India at Ahmedabad.

Archer made his red-ball comeback for the first time since May 2021 in a county championship match for Surrey against Durham last month.

"He'll certainly be available for selection. Our seamers have gone two Tests on the spin and we've got a short turnaround before we head down to HQ. We'll let the dust settle on this one, but Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting.

"He's loving being around the group, and it's great to have him. He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. But we all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket, and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game," said McCullum.

However, the England head coach was more reserved on a spot for Gus Atkinson in the playing, who has also been added to the squad after recovering from injury.