Ben Stokes has had to pull out of England’s final Test against India at The Oval due to an injury. Stokes persevered through the previous match at Old Trafford despite a shoulder issue, but the quick turnaround between games has led to his absence in the decisive encounter starting on Thursday.
Ollie Pope will take over as captain for the team, currently leading the series 2-1. Jacob Bethell will fill in for Stokes, providing left-arm spin to allow England to include an additional seamer by omitting Liam Dawson from the lineup.
Bethell, usually a No.3 batsman, will now occupy Stokes’ No.6 position. England has opted for a near-complete overhaul of their bowling attack after the strenuous efforts of Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Bryson Carse on a challenging pitch in Manchester.
With only Chris Woakes retaining his spot, the bowling lineup sees the return of Josh Tongue, alongside Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, making their Test debuts in this series.
Stokes’ absence is a significant setback for England following his outstanding performance at Old Trafford, where he scored his first Test century in two years and took 5-72 with the ball in the first innings before battling cramps to make 141 runs.
Expressing his disappointment, Stokes mentioned a muscle tear as the reason for his withdrawal, emphasizing the need to weigh the risks against the rewards before making the decision to sit out the match.
The absence of Stokes, coupled with changes in the bowling attack, reshapes the team dynamics, making Woakes the most experienced bowler alongside Tongue, Atkinson, and Overton.
Despite the pitch favoring draws at Old Trafford, the series has been a captivating spectacle with intense moments between the two teams, including controversies like England’s conduct on the final day of the fourth Test and a clash between India’s coach and the groundsman.
The England XI for the fifth Test against India will feature Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.