England have named their squad for the remaining last Ashes Test which is to be played at Kia Oval but an important decision regarding the selection of James Anderson is yet to be made. Considering this Ashes to be Anderson’s last Ashes series, the England team would be looking to give a final farewell to their veteran pace bowler.
Australia retained the urn after the last Test at Old Trafford was drawn due to the rain that washed out most part of the gameplay. Ben Stokes will now be looking to win the last Test match and finish the Ashes on a winning note.
England team selectors have kept their faith high in the same 14-men squad for the last Test match against Australia at the Oval. Anderson hasn’t been to his level during this Ashes series, he has only got 4 wickets in 6 innings at a hugely expensive average of 76.75 apiece which is far below the performance he is capable of. If Anderson is seen left out in the last Ashes Test, it could mean that he has appeared for England in whites for the last time and selectors are trying to move away from him.
The key selection dilemma for Stokes comes with regard to the bowling attack and whether to bring Josh Tongue back in after he impressed at Lord’s or perhaps Ollie Robinson if he is fit to return.
Choosing either man to play would surely mean that Anderson’s storied Ashes career would have ended, quite literally, on a bit of a dampener.
England squad for the Fifth Test: Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
