Fumbling Royals look to seal top-2 spots on return to Guwahati
to stay in the top-two positions as they prepare to take on an unpredictable Punjab Kings in their second ‘home’ at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Hosts England have decided to drop struggling batsman Jason Roy and medium-fast bowling all-rounder Craig Overton for the fifth and final Test match of the ongoing Ashes Series. All-rounders Chris Woakes and Sam Curran have been named as their replacements in the Playing XI for the final test scheduled to begin on Thursday at The Oval.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) added in its release that Ben Stokes would not bowl in the Test match and is named in the Playing XI only as a specialist batsman because of a shoulder injury.
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Woakes was part of playing XI in the first three matches of Ashes 2019 but was left out of the fourth match. Meanwhile, Sam Curran is set to make his Ashes debut in the final test match.
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Although Australia have retained the Ashes by registering a win in the fourth test and going 2-1 up in the series, England would be looking to win the final Test match and deny Australia a series win in English conditions. If, however, England lose the series, this will be their first series loss against Australia at home in Test matches since 2001.
England playing XI: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.
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