England has confirmed an unaltered 14-player squad for the fifth and ultimate Ashes Test, scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 27, at the Oval. Despite rumors surrounding Chris Woakes’ injury, the team has decided to retain the same lineup from the previous game.
In the fourth Test, England displayed remarkable dominance throughout the match until rain affected the proceedings. After asking Australia to bat first, England bowled them out for 317 runs.
In response, the English batsmen hammered the Australian bowlers, amassing an impressive 592 runs, taking a commanding 275-run lead.
Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions, only 30 overs were possible on Day 4, and the final day was washed out. As a result, the match ended in a draw, leading to Australia retaining the Ashes.
England’s 14-man squad remains unchanged for the fifth and final Ashes Test
We have named an unchanged squad for the fifth and final @LV Insurance Test 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2023
Looking ahead to the final Test, England’s selection choices may revolve around veteran pacer James Anderson’s underwhelming performance throughout the series.
His poor average of 76.75 and just five wickets in three games might lead the team to consider bringing Josh Tongue back into the playing XI.
Tongue had a notable performance in his sole game this series, claiming five wickets, including the important scalps of David Warner and Steve Smith.
Another aspect to consider is the potential return of Ollie Robinson if he has recovered from his back injury.
Despite the significance of the final Test, England may contemplate resting Stuart Broad, who has participated in all four Tests so far.
The hosts are determined to maintain their proud record of not losing a Test series to Australia at home since 2001. Additionally, this could be the last home Ashes match for the legendary duo of James Anderson (40) and Stuart Broad (37).
In the previous Tests, Australia won the first two matches at Edgbaston and Lord’s, while England secured a thrilling victory in the third Test at Headingley.
Unfortunately, the fourth Test’s draw prevented England from making history as the first English side to stage a comeback from a 0-2 deficit and win an Ashes series.
England’s squad for the fifth Ashes Test includes Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Zak Crawley, Mark Wood.
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