Ashes 2023: after accepting Ashes England have announced an unchanged squad for the fifth Test against Australia after the drawn Test in Manchester. England announced a 14-man squad, the same team selected for the fourth must-win match between England and Australia. However, some changes can be made in the playing XI as indicated by Ben Stokes.
England have lost the Ashes urn despite playing some entertaining cricket and taking the game to a poor position against the visitors. Captain Ben Stokes was disappointed with the draw and claimed that the team tried everything to get a result to keep the Ashes alive. But the fifth Test will be a chance for Stokes’ side to avoid an Australian victory which would be the first series win by a visiting team in England since 2001. “It’s a big game for us and 2-2 feels much better than 3-1,” Stokes said after the fourth match.
Changes can be seen in the playing eleven of England
England may see changes in the playing XI for the 5th Test as skipper Stokes hinted at a ‘fatigued body’. “There are some tired bodies and we’ve got a short time until The Oval so we’ll have to see who is fit,” Stokes was quoted as saying by the BBC. Chris Woakes and James Anderson can be rested for the fifth test. The former reportedly has quad stiffness. He was in great pain after bowling 35 overs in the third Test at Headingley.
Meanwhile, there is speculation about whether James Anderson should be included in the fifth test or not. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said that Anderson’s selection for the Manchester Test could have cost him the Ashes.
England squad for fifth Ashes Test
Ben Stokes (Captain), moeen aliJames Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Joe RootJosh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood