The final match will begin on July 31 at The Oval.
England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test match of the series against India, starting on July 31, after sustaining an injury in his right shoulder. Opener Ollie Pope will lead the side in his absence at The Oval. Currently, the hosts are leading the series 2-1 while heading into the final fixture of the series.
“Disappointed to not finish the series. I have a decent tear in the muscle I can’t pronounce. Will start rehabing now for the winter,” stated England’s captain in the pre-match press conference.
BAN
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TWI
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WEY
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TWI
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BAN
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SPE
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SPE
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WEY
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BAN
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WEY
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LCC
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WIM
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GUI
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WIM
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LCC
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CPP
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CPP
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GUI
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LCC
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GUI
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NVR
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CCC
65/0
GUG
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91YC
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BCC
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NAJC
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GUG
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CCC
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ENG
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IND
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KRMPS
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BNC
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KUMS
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SBSCC
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KGC
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JJ
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STCC
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FEK
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ALECC
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CEC-A
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SEL
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JOR
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KELN
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MEL
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PRK
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KLPR
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SRAK
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PENG
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PAJ
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NPB
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EAE
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PMW
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WI
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PAK
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ASS
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MAK
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WIU19-W
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USAU19-W
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PNC
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IAC
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Match has been called off
SAC
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AAC
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Apart from skipper Stokes, three more players, including all-rounder Liam Dawson and pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, will also miss out on the final clash. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debutants of the latest Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton, have been included in the hosts’ lineup.
Moreover, Surrey player Gus Atkinson and Nottinghamshire pacer Josh Tongue have also been added for the last fixture of the red-ball series. Notably, Tongue had featured in the initial two matches of the series and snared a total of 11 wickets.
After an enthralling red-ball contest across four matches over the past one month, the England vs India series is at the brink of its climax as both teams are up for one final push in the ultimate fixture. The hosts are eager to complete their unfinished job at Manchester, to claim the series 3-1, and gain a massive uplift before heading for the Ashes 2025 in Australia. Earlier, they achieved the feat by registering a dominating 4-1 victory over the visitors in 2018.
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On the other hand, India would look to give their best shot in this must-win situation. Only a win at The Oval could help Shubman Gill and the team to level the series with the score line of 2-2. Contrary to the current score line, the young Indian squad, including the newly appointed Test skipper Gill, has showcased a tremendous fight in the series so far. Previously, they had also drawn the five-match series 2-2 in their latest tour of England in 2022.
India will also miss the vice-captain and gloveman Rishabh Pant, who showed massive resilience and grit to come up with a fractured toe in the first innings of the Old Trafford Test.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
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