London, July 29 - Bad weather threatens to play a spoilsport in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston starting Thursday.

The weather forecast in Birmingham for the day before the clash is for heavy showers with chances of showers on the opening day.

England lead the series 1-0 after their 115-run win in the last week's Lord's Test.

The weather bureau is predicting heavy showers on the second day and there is a 40 per cent and 30 per cent chance of rain on the final two days respectively.

Members of the Edgbaston ground staff have already been working overtime to dry up the soggy outfield that is heavy underfoot following the wet weather of the past fortnight.

Groundsman Steve Rouse has said he is up against it getting the Edgbaston deck ready and has advised Australia not to play specialist spinner Nathan Hauritz.

The mercury is not tipped to hit 20 degrees Celsius over the coming week.