Ben Stokes has been ruled out of England’s final Test against India at The Oval due to an injury. Despite battling through the previous match with a shoulder injury, Stokes will miss the decider due to the short turnaround. Ollie Pope will take over as captain for the match as England aims to maintain their 2-1 series lead.
Replacing Stokes is allrounder Jacob Bethell, who offers left-arm spin, allowing England to strengthen their bowling attack. The team has made significant changes to their bowling lineup, with only Chris Woakes retaining his place. Newcomers Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton will bolster the bowling attack for their first Tests of the series.
Stokes’ absence is a major setback for England, given his stellar performance in the previous match where he excelled with both bat and ball. Despite his efforts, Stokes succumbed to a muscle tear in his shoulder, forcing him to sit out the final Test. Woakes now leads the bowling attack, supported by the fresh faces in the squad.
The series, characterized by competitive play, has seen tensions rise between the two teams. England faced criticism for their conduct during the previous Test, and the drama continued off-field as India’s coach engaged in a heated exchange with the groundsman. The upcoming Test promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the closely contested series.
The England XI for the fifth Test against India includes Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope as captain, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith as wicketkeeper, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.
