England's Stokes praises Australia's Head, supports his own errant batters
Scott Boland will step up and uncapped Brendan Doggett is tipped for a high-stakes debut to try to shore up the loss of a combined 604 Test wickets of experience.
Expect nothing less than hostility, fire and close contests as Ben Stokes' England come armed with their Bazball philosophy to try and get the better of a depleted Australia.
England were in command on 30/1 at tea after bowling West Indies out for 121 on the opening day of the first Test.
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena hailed Mohammed Siraj's match-winning delivery in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 2nd Test between England and Sri Lanka, at Lord's, on Sunday.
Siraj dismissed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton before bowling Gus Atkinson to end the match.
England on Tuesday named a 16-man squad for the Ashes series starting in Australia in November with Ben Stokes, who is currently nursing a shoulder injury, set to return to lead the side.
As England and India gear up for the final showdown in the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, former England speedster Stuart Broad feels the hosts should make some changes to their Playing XI and rest tearaway Jofra Archer.
Mohammed Siraj's ferocious 143kph yorker that sent Gus Atkinson's stumps flying, securing India's narrowest ever Test win by runs.
A 2-2 series result seems fair, for a 1-3 loss would have been cruelly unjust --- especially to Siraj, who bowled 185.3 overs in the series for 23 wickets and never seemed to give up belief.
Images from Day 2 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval, London, on Friday.
India roared back into contention on an exhilarating day two of the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Friday as their seamers restricted England to a 23-run lead.
England gained the upper hand after a rain-hit first day of the final Test against India at The Oval on Thursday
Siraj has attained a career-best 15th position in the latest ICC Test rankings
Yashasvi Jaiswal enhanced his reputation as an all-conditions opener with a gutsy hundred on a tough pitch before Washington Sundar's whirlwind fifty allowed India to set a record 374-run target for England on an absorbing Day 3 of the final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Needing 7 to win, Siraj is given the ball and who better than Mr Lion Heart to script India's narrowest win in Test cricket. It takes Siraj a stinging yorker to send Atkinson's stumps flying -- the ball hitting low on the off stump.
Images from Day 5 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval, London, on Monday.
Atkinson, who is playing his first Test of the series following a hamstring strain, said that he is "ready to push the limits" in case Woakes does not take any further part.
'I'm worried. We're going to wander in and have a little game with the 'A' team. (It will be) 'Alright mate, how are you? Good on ya' and we're going to go and perform?'
Since going missing from red-ball action in 2021, the 30-year-old endured a period during which injuries constantly plagued him, especially a recurring stress fracture in his right elbow.
India lost their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul on a green top but did well to reach 72 for two at lunch on Day 1 of the series-deciding fifth Test against England at The Oval, London, on Thursday.
'Mohammed Siraj and the passion of the Indian boys was too strong and ultimately they deserve to win this Test match.'
'There's a bit of uncertainty and maybe a lack of confidence creeping into Jaiswal's game.'
All-rounder Jamie Overton, who played the only Test match of his career back in 2022, has been recalled to the 15-member England squad
Atherton reckons that in his three years at the helm, the series against India is Stokes' sternest test of leadership qualities.
Mohammed Siraj's burst on the final day of the Test series against England helped India win in dramatic fashion to level the five-match series at 2-2.
England have requested a pitch with 'plenty of life in it' as they look to unleash returning pacers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson in the third Test against India at Lord's.
Even as the conditions changed, bright sunshine alternating with gloom, the Indian batters gritted their teeth and fought it out.
"Came here to give myself every chance to play just as batter": Stokes after being ruled out of Oval Test
Ganguly, who is credited for transforming the Indian Test side from a struggling group into a formidable force, particularly in overseas conditions, revealed he was confident of India taking the remaining four wickets on the final day to pull off an extraordinary win.
In a lapse of concentration, Atkinson picked the ball and sent the timber rattling to have Gill run out on 21(35).
Mohammed Siraj's match-winning spell in The Oval Test reminded us all what Test cricket -- and fast bowling -- is truly about: Discipline, endurance, and unwavering grit, says Aadharsh A V.
India are favourites to secure victory and draw the series, but England will still fancy their chances of completing what would be by far the highest successful Test run chase at The Oval.
Ben Stokes was ruled out due to a shoulder muscle tear.
'Sometimes vice-captains aren't brilliant captains.'
England all-rounder Chris Woakes said rehabilitation is a risk he is willing to take to be fit for the Ashes rather than undergoing surgery on the shoulder injury he sustained during last week's fifth Test loss to India.
'I woke up in the morning and checked google on my phone and took out a 'Believe' emoji wallpaper and told myself that I will do it for the country.'
Shubman Gill may have fallen agonisingly short of breaking Sunil Gavaskar's iconic 54-year-old record, but he walked away with something just as special - the legend's respect.
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