Newly appointed interim Test coach Mike Hesson addressed the media ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston, attempting to distance himself from the recent mid-tour squad overhaul and shift focus strictly to the upcoming match. Drafted at Short Notice: Hesson revealed he was in Japan preparing for the Asian Games before being called back to Lahore and flown to England on short notice following the PCB's decision to revamp the Test coaching staff and squad. Not Involved in Selection Decisions: Hesson clarified that he was not part of the selection panel that sent seven players home. He noted that key players—including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, and his T20I captain Salman Ali Agha—had already been removed prior to his arrival. Explanation on Ali Usman's Exclusion: Addressing the controversial release of spinner Ali Usman, Hesson cited condition-specific tactical reasons, explaining that carrying a specialist finger-spinner who doesn't contribute with the bat is impractical in English late-summer conditions where spin overs are minimal. Acknowledging Team Disruption: While acknowledging that players were understandably hurt and disrupted by how mid-tour departures were handled, Hesson emphasized that his sole priority is controlling what he can and bringing energy with the incoming replacements for the Edgbaston Test. "It was a really difficult situation for everybody, for those coming in, those leaving," he said. "I don't think anyone wants these sorts of things to happen in the middle of a series, clearly not. It's been an unfortunate situation, and my focus is very much on where to from here. I'm not going to dig too deep into that at the moment, I'm pretty much focused on what lies ahead, and if we're able to make some good strides this week, then that's going to be a good start."