Ashes 2023 | England Announce Playing XI For 5th Test at The Oval
England team in action [AP]
England have named an unchanged playing XI for the 5th and final Ashes Test, which will take place at the Kia Oval between July 27-31. The Ben Stokes-led unit announced their starting XI on the eve of the Test match on Wednesday, July 26.
England were denied an opportunity to level the series 2-2 in Manchester last week thanks to persistent rain over the course of the 4th and 5th day.
Ahead of the 5th Test, there were murmurs around England potentially dropping veteran seamer James Anderson, who has looked pretty ineffective in the 3 Tests he has played in the series so far.
The hosts retained the squad that dominated Australia in Manchester, squashing suggestions that pacer Joshua Tongue may get a look-in for the Oval Test.
Once England retained the same squad, the only possible option for Anderson's replacement was Ollie Robinson. Still, given his fitness issues, the management persisted with their veteran seamer.
The rest of the playing XI pretty much picked itself, with Duckett, Crawley and Moeen Ali slotting in the top-3, followed by Joe Root, Harry Brook and skipper Stokes.
Jonny Bairstow will continue keeping the wickets, while Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Anderson will lead the bowling attack.
The series scoreline stands at 2-1 in favour of Australia at the moment, but while England can't regain the urn even if they win at the Oval, but they can still deny the Aussies their first series win in the UK since 2001.
England's Playing XI For Oval Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson
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