 "Ben Stokes during the second Test against India at Edgbaston. Image: Reuters")
England have made some big moves ahead of the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, with captain Ben Stokes ruled out due to a shoulder injury. The team has announced four changes to their playing XI for the series finale, which starts on Thursday, July 31.
“I’m obviously disappointed. I’ve got a decent tear in the right shoulder. Weighing up the risk and reward and the risk was way too high for the damage caused. I’ll start rehabbing now and start to focus on what we have coming up in the winter,” Stokes said on missing out on the fifth Test.
Ollie Pope, who is the vice-captain of the team, will lead in the absence of Stokes. Apart from Stokes, England will also be without Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse, who are all missing out for the last match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Jacob Bethell all set for first Test on home soil
The biggest surprise in the new squad is youngster Jacob Bethell, who has been named to bat at No.6. Bethell has played just three Test matches, and this will be a huge opportunity for him on the big stage. This is his first Test match on home soil.
In the bowling department, England have gone with pace. Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton will play in place of Carse and Archer. Josh Tongue also comes into the team to strengthen the pace attack as Stokes misses out.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEngland’s playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
India need to win the match to level the series, while England are ahead 2-1 and just need a draw to take the series win.
Stokes on handshake controversy
Stokes also spoke about the handshake controversy in the fourth Test at Manchester, where he offered a draw to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar when they were nearing their centuries. The Indian players refused to end the game and continued batting until they reached the three-figure marks.
“No regrets but I think it’s one of those when you’ve not been there in the field for 250 overs, you do have a bit more of an understanding towards both sides. The two lads Jadeja and Washington played incredibly well up until that point, so you understand as to why they wanted to stay put there and get their hundreds.”
“But, again, as I said at the end of the game, I’m not going to bowl any of my bowlers in a situation where we can’t win and expose any of those guys to injury. We’re over it. I think India are over that whole thing."
“Let’s just try our best not to focus too much on a 20-min period of cricket when it’s been such a good series so far.”