London: Both England and India are gearing up to field refreshed teams for the final Test of a captivating series at the Oval. England suffered a setback as captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Stokes’ absence is a significant blow for England. He was instrumental in the series, becoming the fourth England player to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test during the previous match at Old Trafford. Stokes also led the series in wickets, claiming 17 at an average of 25.23.
England is making four changes for the Oval Test. Jacob Bethell steps in as a spin-bowling all-rounder, replacing Stokes. Fast bowlers Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton join the team, while Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse are rested. Liam Dawson has been dropped, with England opting against a specialist spinner.
India, on the other hand, has yet to decide on the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been dealing with a back injury. Bumrah played at
Old Trafford, but his participation in the final Test is uncertain after his recent workload.
India captain Shubman Gill stated that a decision on Bumrah’s participation would be made on the day of the match, considering the green nature of the pitch. India plans to recall Akash Deep, who had previously excelled in Bumrah’s absence.
The Indian team will also see a change in wicketkeeping duties as Dhruv Jurel replaces Rishabh Pant, who is sidelined due to a foot fracture. India will aim to continue their resilience, having recovered from a precarious position in the second innings at Old Trafford.
Gill, having an outstanding debut series as captain, set a new record for the most runs by an Indian batsman in a series against England, with 722 runs. He is on the verge of surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 774 runs against the West Indies in 1971.
Tensions have escalated during the series, with disputes over sportsmanship and a spat between India coach Gautam Gambhir and Oval groundsman Lee Fortis adding
to the drama. Despite the heated moments, Gill emphasized the mutual respect between the teams once the match concludes.
India’s head coach Gambhir faces scrutiny, with the team having won only two of their last 12 Tests under his guidance. England and India are set for a gripping finale to a fiercely contested series.