England Retain Same Squad For Fifth Ashes Test, Ben Stokes To Be Assessed

England have named an unchanged squad for the fifth and the final Test of Ashes 2019, that kicks off on Thursday. The squad for the final Test is on the expected lines as England are hardly known to ring changes during a series.

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Same squad means Jason Roy will get another chance in the longest format of the game, probably the last one for him. He was moved down in the batting order in the fourth Test, with Joe Denly opening the innings. While the move wasn’t a huge success, Denly did well in the second innings, scoring 53 off 123.

Roy, on the other hand, scored 22 in the first innings and followed up with 31 in the second innings. The move to the middle order was a bit of success and should Roy do well in the fifth Test, England might persist with him and keep Denly up the order.

Going into the fifth Test, all-rounder Ben Stokes will be assessed. He had suffered a shoulder issue on the fourth day of the Test and is expected to be fit for the fifth Test. But should he be declared unfit, either of Chris Woakes and Sam Curran will come into playing XI.

While Woakes has had his chance in the series, Curran, surprisingly, has warmed the bench in all the four Tests so far. He could be given preference over Woakes if Stokes misses out.

While England will was not able to regain the Ashes urn, they have series to play for. If England win the fifth Test, the Ashes 2019 will end in a draw. But if the Test ends in a draw or if Australia win, the visitors will win the series. Tim Paine and co are leading the series 2-1.

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They won the first Test and drew the second Test at Lords. In the third Test, the home side pulled off a heist but lost the penultimate Test.

The fifth and the final Test of the series kicks off on September 12 at Kennington Oval, London.

England’s squad for fifth Test: England squad for fifth Ashes Test: Joe Root (Captain), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes