adminLONDON. — England included the uncapped duo of Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes and Lancashire left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan in a 14-man squad announced yesterday for next week’s fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.Woakes, already a one-day international, was brought in after pace bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who starred with bat and ball in England’s 74-run fourth Test win at Chester-le-Street concluded on Monday, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back.
And with pitches at The Oval renowned for taking turn, Kerrigan was added to give England — who’ve now won three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s — an extra spin option in addition to off-break bowler Graeme Swann.
England also gave themselves further fast-bowling choices with the inclusion of Chris Tremlett, who if selected will be playing on his Surrey home ground in south London, and Middlesex’s Steven Finn, dropped after the 14-run first Test win over Australia at Trent Bridge.
England, who at 3-0 up have already retained the Ashes and won the series, will be looking to win four matches in a home Test series against Australia for the first time when the clash with their arch-rivals starts on Wednesday.
England squad
Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Matt Prior (Sussex, wkt), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire) — AFP.
Online Reporter