The 20-year Surrey batsman Ollie Pope has returned to the 13-man squad for the final Test match against India. Pope had made the cut for the second and third Test match’s playing XI. However, he could make the cut for the fourth Test match’s final XI.
James Vince who was called in as a cover for Jonny Bairstow has been left out of the squad. Meanwhile, the England selectors haven’t altered with the opening combination as Keaton Jennings also finds his place. Thus, England will open with Jennings and veteran batsman Alastair Cook who would be playing his swansong match.
England has already put the series in the bag.
In fact, Jamie Porter is also not included in the squad which means England will continue to field their veteran bowler Stuart Broad and James Anderson.
Meanwhile, a decision regarding handing the wicketkeeping gloves back to Jonny Bairstow will also be taken. Bairstow had suffered a blow to his middle finger in the third Test match at Trent Bridge. Thus, he had played as a pure batsman in the last Test match at Ageas Bowl.
Consequently, Bairstow will test the injury in the training session and if fails to attain the required fitness, Jos Buttler will continue to perform the wicketkeeping duties.
Ian Bell also could not break into the squad despite scoring four centuries in the County Championship. In fact, Surrey’s Rory Burns also didn’t find any place, albeit he is averaging 64 in the ongoing season.
On the other hand, Chris Woakes is also in the 13-man squad. Woakes had suffered a thigh tissue before the previous Test match and had not played. Woakes will be assessed before the final match and if he is fit, he may replace Ben Stokes who had left knee issues in the last match.
Here is England’s 13-man squad for the fifth and final Test match against India.
Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.