England name unchanged squad for Oval Ashes Test
Ben Stokes says "tired bodies" will affect selection with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood likely to be assessed
ESPNcricinfo staff
24-Jul-2023
Chris Woakes has picked up 12 wickets in his two appearances • Getty Images
England have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of drawing in Manchester with a win to square the series.
Despite being "pretty much perfect throughout", in the words of captain Ben Stokes, England were unable to force victory at Old Trafford as heavy rain over the weekend meant only 30 overs were possible on day four and none at all on day five. The result meant Australia retained the urn with a game to spare.
As in 2019, England go to south London unable to win the series but with the incentive of denying Australia their first win on these shores since 2001. "It is a massive game for us and 2-2 sounds a lot better than 3-1," Stokes said.
England will have to assess the fitness of Chris Woakes, who has had a major impact in his two appearances and is the side's second-leading wicket-taker with 12, but has reported feeling quad stiffness.
The Headingley Test was Woakes' first in the format since England toured the Caribbean in March 2022 and he said last week, before the fourth Test started, that he had pulled up "extremely sore" after bowling 35 overs across the match in Leeds.
He added that playing back-to-back Tests "won't be an issue" if selected to play at The Oval, and that "the adrenaline and the occasion" would get him through. But with a World Cup in India looming later this year, England may decide not to risk one of their main all-format players.
"There are some tired bodies and we have a short period until the Oval so we will have to see who is fit then," Stokes told the BBC.
Mark Wood's workload is also likely to be monitored and England could face a decision over whether to include James Anderson in their XI. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, said the selection of Anderson - who has four wickets at 76.75 in the series - had cost England at Old Trafford and his place could come under threat from Ollie Robinson or Josh Tongue.
England squad for the fifth Test: Ben Stokes (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood