England drop Jason Roy for final Ashes Test, Ben Stokes plays as specialist batsman
England has dropped jason Roy and Ben Stokes will Perform a specialist batsman at the final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.
Stokes was confined to 10.5 overs in Old Trafford last week after injuring his shoulder in Australia’s first innings and will not bowl south London from Thursday as England look to earn a 2-2 series draw.
Sam Curran has been drafted in as a fourth seam-bowling choice to pay for, meaning batsman Roy – who has scored only 110 runs in the string at an average of 13.75 – creates way, although Chris Woakes has been recalled in place of fellow paceman Craig Overton.
England captain Joe Root said:”It is always hard to leave men out but Stokesy picked up a shoulder injury in the last game.
“He will not have the ability to bowl the overs you would normally expect him and I believe it would be a danger to take him into the game as a fourth seamer.
“He may be able to bowl a few overs here and there but his batting is, since this series indicates a massive part of this facet and he deserves to be in the team because a top-four batter.
“That we’ve had to alter the balance of the side along with Jason is the unlucky one to miss out.
“Jason has an chance to come in and play Test cricket and get a feel for it and it has not quite gone as he’d have enjoyed, but I am sure he’ll go off and work extremely hard and return again.
“That is what you expect of men when they get left out. I am sure he’ll have that mindset. Put himself back into the negative and he will want to prove a point.
“He’s very aware of where he is in and what he wants to do for himself in the best spot to do in Test cricket”
Australia – who retained the Ashes on Sunday having a victory in Manchester – will create at least one alteration with all all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, in The Oval.
Peter Siddle has been named in a group, and is expecting to split up the pace attack of Mitchell Starc Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
“The bowlers bowled a great deal of overs [at Old Trafford] thus earning Mitchell will ease a good deal of the workload onto these,” said Australia captain Tim Paine at his press conference.
“It was a tough call on Travis, who has made a fantastic start to his Test career, but we only need a little more bowling depth on what looks like a excellent wicket and to have the ability to look following big fast bowlers.
“Mitchell also includes two Test hundreds so we have full faith in him with the violin .”
Paine’s unwanted lead the series 2-1 and will be looking to win the Ashes series for the very first time in England as 2001, when Steve Waugh captained the Baggy Greens into a 4-1 victory.
See day one of the fifth Test reside on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Ashes in 10am on Thursday.
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