India vs England: Ben Stokes ruled out of England Playing XI for the final Test

The English captain, Ben Stokes, has been ruled out of the last Test against India. Ollie Pope has been named interim captain, with England Playing XI announced a day ahead of the match. Ben Stokes turned up as the leading performer for his team in the India vs England series. However, the 34-year-old seems to have stretched his body beyond the limit, getting ruled out of the crucial Oval Test. The England skipper wrapped up the Manchester Test as the Player of the Match. The pacer scalped a five-wicket haul and scored a century at Old Trafford to put his team in the lead. However, India followed with a gritty fight to force a draw against Bazball. Now, the series stands 2-1 in favor of Stokes' team ahead of the final fixture.

Ben Stokes ruled out of the final India vs England Test with a shoulder injury

The visitors have earned a positive update before they kickstart the action in the final India vs England Test. Ben Stokes, the English captain and the leading wicket-taker in the series so far, has been ruled out of the England Playing XI for the last Test. In 4 matches, Stokes has bowled 140 overs, scalping 17 wickets at an average of 25.23. Stokes’s fifer in the Manchester Test, added with his ton with the bat in the first innings, put India on the back foot, denying a win to the visitors at Old Trafford.

However, Stokes looked in visible discomfort in the fourth Test. Batting in the first innings, Stokes retired hurt as cramps hindered his game. While the captain returned to score 141, his fitness took a blow. The captain bowled only 11 overs in the final innings, where India managed to take the win away from the hosts. Stokes battled through pain, constantly prodding his shoulder, to complete the Test in Manchester. While the captain looked hopeful to recover by the Oval Test, the chances have now been dashed, as Stokes has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Bethell, Overton, Tongue, and Atkinson join England Playing XI for the Oval Test

The England Playing XI features three more changes, as pacers Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer have also been rested for the final Test. Pace all-rounder Jamie Overton, along with Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, have been named in the English combination. Meanwhile, Chris Woakes will lead the attack at the Oval, meaning the pacer will play all five India vs England Tests. Moreover, Liam Dawson has also been dropped from the combination, with the young Josh Tongue finally getting a chance in the series.

Gus Atkinson joined the England squad ahead of the Lord's Test. However, the England management did not rush his return after the pacer injured his hamstring during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe earlier this season. Jofra Archer was named in the squad ahead of the Edgbaston Test but waited on the sidelines for his first Test appearance since 2021. The speedster joined the England Playing XI for the Lord's Test, playing two fixtures and scalping nine wickets across 4 innings. 

The England Playing XI turning up for the Oval Test features no specialist spinner. Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the series after injuring his finger in the Lord's Test. Liam Dawson earned a spot in the England squad, replacing Bashir in the combination on the back of his consistently impressive county stints. However, the spin all-rounder has been dropped after a single appearance in the series. Jacob Bethell joins in and is likely to take up the sixth spot in the batting lineup. Moreover, if required, England will turn to Bethell and Joe Root for spin assistance at the Oval. Ollie Pope has claimed the leading spot in Stokes' absence.

Meanwhile, in the opposition's corner, Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the next fixture in India cricket schedule. The visitors are likely to replace the pace spearhead with Akash Deep, who scalped 10 wickets in the Edgbaston Test before a groin strain ruled him out of the Manchester Test. Moreover, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is in line to claim his Test debut, likely replacing Anshul Kamboj in India’s Playing XI.

England Playing XI for the Oval Test

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.