Key Points
- England captain Ben Stokes ruled out of the series-deciding Oval Test against India due to a right shoulder injury.
- Ollie Pope appointed stand-in captain for the crucial July 31 clash; England lead series 2-1.
- England revamp squad with four changes: Archer, Carse rested; Dawson dropped; new inclusions are Tongue, Atkinson, Overton, and 21-year-old Jacob Bethell.
- Stokes leaves series as top wicket-taker (17 wickets) and a key batsman (304 runs).
- Test debut in 2025 for Gus Atkinson this summer after path back from injury; Jamie Overton recalled for his second Test appearance.
- England announce squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
London: England’s hopes for a series-clinching win over India suffered a huge setback as captain and star allrounder Ben Stokes was officially ruled out of the 5th Test at The Oval with a right shoulder injury sustained in Manchester. Stokes, a powerhouse with both bat and ball throughout the campaign, will watch from the sidelines as vice-captain Ollie Pope steps in for the decider starting Thursday, July 31.
England Make Four Changes: Fresh Faces and Comebacks
With the series locked at 2-1 in England’s favor, the selectors have rung in changes:
- Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse rested to manage workloads; left-arm spinner Liam Dawson dropped.
- Pacer Josh Tongue returns to the XI after a strong showing in the early matches.
- Fast bowler Gus Atkinson makes his first Test appearance since recovering from a hamstring strain a return staged by solid performances for Surrey’s second XI just last week.
- Jamie Overton, recalled for what will be only his second Test (the previous being against New Zealand in 2022).
- Jacob Bethell, the 21-year-old batting allrounder, replaces Stokes; Bethell impressed with 260 runs and three fifties at an average of 52 in his debut Test series against New Zealand earlier in 2024.
Stokes’ Series Impact and Absence
Stokes leaves behind a sizable void:
- Bowling: Series-leading 17 wickets at 25.24, providing crucial breakthroughs.
- Batting: 304 runs at 43.43, including a standout century in Manchester that helped England seize the momentum.
England’s Probable XI for 5th Test
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope (captain)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jacob Bethell
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Jamie Overton
- Josh Tongue
Series Context and What’s at Stake
Having edged India out in Leeds and Lord’s, England hold a narrow 2-1 advantage in the five-match series. India, desperate to level, will be buoyed by the captain’s absence and a reshuffled England line-up. All eyes now turn to The Oval for what promises to be a pressure-filled decider, with England banking on youth and depth in a high-stakes scenario.
With Ben Stokes unavailable, the Oval Test presents England’s new faces a golden chance to step up while India sense an opportunity to snatch a dramatic series comeback.
