England have been dealt a significant blow before the fifth and last India vs England Test, with captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes having been officially ruled out of the game due to a shoulder injury. The game is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 31, at The Oval, London, with Ollie Pope taking over the role of captain.
Ben Stokes Injury Update: Shoulder Problem Brings Series to a Premature End
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Ben Stokes injured his right shoulder during the drawn fourth Test in Manchester. He bowled a long spell as India batted for 143 overs over five sessions in a bid to save the match. Stokes bowled 35 overs in total throughout the match and was clearly in pain, often holding his shoulder on the field.
Even though he was the Player of the Match in the third and fourth Tests for his outstanding all-around performances, medical scans have revealed that Stokes won’t be available for the series finale on time.
Ollie Pope to Lead England in Series Finale
In the absence of Ben Stokes, vice-captain Ollie Pope has been chosen to captain England for the fifth Test. Pope will captain a somewhat new-look England XI against a well-fancied Indian team, with the hosts having a 2-1 advantage in the India vs England series currently.
England’s Playing XI for The Oval Test
England have made a few changes to their side from the fourth Test:
Out: Ben Stokes (injured), Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse (rested), Liam Dawson (dropped)
In: Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
England XI:
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope (captain)
Joe Root
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Harry Brook
Jacob Bethell
Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
Chris Woakes
Gus Atkinson
Jamie Overton
Josh Tongue
Jacob Bethell to Debut at No. 6
Jacob Bethell has been assigned a debut and will fit into the No. 6 position in the batting lineup. The young all-rounder offers left-arm spin and lower-middle-order batting, possibly helping to fill some of the gap caused by Stokes’s absence.
Key Absentees: Archer, Carse, Dawson Also Miss Out
England have decided to give fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse a break after sustained workloads in recent matches. The left-arm spinner Liam Dawson, who played in Manchester, has also been omitted.
The revamped bowling attack will be headed by experienced Chris Woakes, with the support of young seamers Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.
Series Context: England Lead 2-1 Against India
Going into the last India vs England Test, the hosts maintain a narrow 2-1 series advantage. With the visitors keen to square the series, England will have to cope with the loss of Ben Stokes, one of their most reliable performers in the series.
Ben Stokes’s injury is a major blow to England before the high-pressure final Test against India at The Oval. While the team looks up to Ollie Pope for leadership and a new bowling attack to come good, everyone will be watching England get by without their talismanic captain in a series-acute match.
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