Last Update on: September 12th, 2019 at 11:32 am
England have dropped Jason Roy and Craig Overton from the playing XI for the fifth and the final Ashes Test. Chris Woakes, who was surprisingly dropped from the playing XI for penultimate Test, will be walking into playing XI. Along with him, Sam Curran has also been included. The 21-year-old will be making his Ashes debut tomorrow.
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The decision to drop Roy comes as surprise considering he did well in the two innings that he batted in the middle-order. The right-handed batsman scored 53 runs in the fourth Test. Overall Roy has had poor run in the series, scoring 110 runs at 13.75.
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He started as an opener in the series but poor run saw him being asked to bat in the middle-order. After doing well at World Cup 2019, he got his maiden call-up for Ireland Test, where he scored a half-century. He couldn’t continue his form and has been dropped from playing XI five Tests after his debut.
The decision to drop Craig Overton has also come as a surprise. Though he got just two wickets in the Test, Overton almost ensured a draw for England after batting 105 deliveries in the fourth innings. He was the last batsmen to be dismissed just few minutes before stumps.
Ben Stokes, who was in doubt for the fifth Test, has been cleared to play but will not bowl. The 28-year-old all-rounder had hurt his right shoulder in the fourth Test, that put him doubt for the fifth Test.
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Australia also made a change to their 12-member squad. Travis Head was dropped for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. The visitors might rest one of the pacers for the final Test which can see Peter Siddle walk into the playing XI.
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Australia, who have retained Ashes urn, are leading the series 2-1. A win for Australia will mean a series win for them but if they lose, England will level the series 2-2.
