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New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Stokes, Archer out as England make four changes
LONDON: In a big blow for England going into the fifth and final Test with the series 2-1 in their favour, captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the match due to right shoulder injury. The home team has also made three more changes in the Manchester Test playing XI with spinner Liam Dawson making way for spin-bowling all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who will bat at No 6. Pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have also been left out. Surrey bowlers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton were also included in the side, along with Nottinghamshire quick Josh Tongue. "Yeah, obviously disappointed to not be able to finish the series," was the English skipper's response in the pre-match day press conference on Wednesday. Speaking of the injury, he said, "Yeah, I've got a decent tear in one of the muscles that I can't pronounce because I don't know how to say it. It took as long as we could to make that decision around that. Obviously, a bit of emotion going into this kind of stuff when you find out what you've done." Stokes played a huge role for his team in this series. Currently he is leading wicket taker with 17 scalps and slammed a century, his first in more than two years, in the Manchester Test. His all-round show, especially at the Lord's and Manchester Tests, meant he was adjudged Player of the Match in both the contests. Stokes, 34, in fact reached the Oval, the venue of the fifth Test, on Wednesday morning and contemplated his chance of playing as a specialist batter. He had a chat with the medical team and head coach Brendon McCullum before arriving at the final decision. "I came down here this morning to give myself every chance. Obviously, just to play as a batter, bowling was ruled out as soon as we got the scan results. But, yeah, I think you need that time chatting with the medical team, Baz, and then almost just 20 minutes to myself out there in the middle of the morning just to really be clear around the decision that we made," Stoked said.


NDTV
8 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Ben Stokes "Obviously Disappointed" After Being Ruled Out Of Oval Test vs India Due To Injury
Ahead of the fifth and final Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy starting from July 31 against India, England skipper Ben Stokes reveals he has a muscle tear, due to which he will be out of the playing 11 for the series decider. Stokes has been ruled out of the England squad for the fifth and final Test against India due to an injury, with Ollie Pope set to lead the side in his absence. Stokes also said he gave himself every chance to play just as a batter in the final Test. In this ongoing series with the bat, Stokes has made 304 runs in seven innings at an average of 43.42, with a century to his name. "I am obviously disappointed, I have got a decent tear in one of the muscles I can't pronounce. We took as long as we could to make the decision around that. Obviously, there is a bit of emotion that goes into this stuff when you find out what you have done. I came down here this morning to give myself every chance to play just as a batter," Ben Stokes told the media as quoted from Sky Sports. Stokes said it was a collective decision-making process after consulting with the medical team and then having a discussion with the coach, Brendon McCullum. "I think you need that time chatting with the medical team, Baz (McCullum), then 20 minutes with me to really be clear around the decision that we made. It is one of those weighing up the risk and reward, and the risk was way too high for the damage," Stokes added. "I wouldn't expect to put any of my players at risk with an injury like this, so I will start rehabbing now and focus on what we have got coming up in the winter. Once the series was done, I was feet up anyway, so it doesn't make too much difference from what I had at the end of the series until the winter anyway," he added. With a ball in hand, Stokes has been merciless, relentless, producing miracles effortlessly. He is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 17 scalps at an average of 25.23, with best figures of 5/72 and has also taken a four-fer. He has also won two Player of the Match awards. The fifth and final Test of the series will take place from Thursday onwards, with the series in favour of England by 2-1 following a hard-fought draw by India at Old Trafford in Manchester. India would not be able to win the series in England, something they last did back in 2007, but they have a chance to bow out with their heads held high and series levelled. England line-up. Zak Crawley 2. Ben Duckett 3. Ollie Pope (c) 4. Joe Root 5. Harry Brook 6. Jacob Bethell 7. Jamie Smith (wk) 8. Chris Woakes 9. Gus Atkinson 10. Jamie Overton 11. Josh Tongue.


Hans India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
'The risk was way too high': Ben Stokes opens up on shoulder injury ruling him out of Oval Test
London: England captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of the series-deciding fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India at The Oval, citing a shoulder injury that he said was 'too big a risk' to aggravate. The 34-year-old all-rounder, who has been England's talisman throughout the gripping four-match series, announced on the eve of the final Test, confirming that vice-captain Ollie Pope would lead the team in his absence. 'Disappointed to not finish the series. I have a decent tear in the muscle I can't pronounce,' Stokes said in the pre-match press conference. 'I came down here this morning trying to find ways just to contribute to the batting. After discussions with the medical team, it was decided. The risk was way too high. I wouldn't have expected anyone else in my place to risk this as well.' Stokes has been central to England's fight in the series, earning Player of the Match awards at both Lord's and Old Trafford. Across four Tests, he scored 304 runs at an average of 43.42 and took 17 wickets, including a match-defining five-for. His absence will undoubtedly be a major blow, but he threw his weight behind the team. 'One man doesn't win or lose you a game. Whether I'm playing or not, it doesn't mean we'll win or lose. There are other players who are capable,' he said. Stokes also acknowledged the demanding nature of the series, both physically and mentally. He revealed that he has bowled 140 overs across the four Tests — the most he's bowled in any series since the 2013-14 Ashes. 'It's been a big toll on the body. Physically, it's tiring, but the mental side too. Tough, gruelling series but a test of character and physicality. The way both teams have fought shows how much the format means for India and England.' He was particularly vocal about the inconsistent scheduling. 'The gaps between games could have been better. There were gaps of 8–9 days between matches and then 3–4 days as well. You could make it a 4–5 days gap between matches, maybe, so there's that consistency. It's been tough for both teams — a lot of overs bowled, a lot of time spent on the field,' he noted. Stokes said he would begin his rehabilitation process with an eye on England's winter schedule. 'I was going to put my feet up anyway after the series, so it doesn't matter,' he said. Stokes also addressed the controversy that erupted during the closing moments of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester. On Day Five, he had offered a handshake to India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar with the game heading towards a draw. But the Indian duo, both nearing centuries, declined the gesture and opted to bat on. A visibly irked Stokes was heard asking Jadeja, 'Do you want to score a hundred against Harry Brook?' Now, the England skipper says it's time to move on. 'I understand why Jadeja and Sundar wanted to get their 100s, but I was not going to bowl my bowlers. We are over it, India are over it. Let's not focus on those 20 minutes; it has been a great series,' he said. 'Jadeja and Washington played really well to get the game to that point, and it's understandable why they wanted the centuries. We've moved on and hope India moves on from that twenty minutes.' When asked about the viral altercation between India's head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Oval ground staff earlier in the week, Stokes kept his response brief: 'I don't know, I wasn't here.' The series heads to a climactic conclusion on July 31 with England leading 2-1.


India Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Ben Stokes disappointed after missing 5th Test vs India: Risk was way too high
Ben Stokes admitted that playing in the fifth and final Test against India at the KIA Oval would have been too big a risk as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. Although he had hoped to contribute as a batter, the England captain withdrew after medical consultation. In his absence, vice-captain Ollie Pope will lead the 34, has been in outstanding form this series, earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards at Lord's and Old Trafford. Across four Tests, he has scored 304 runs at an average of 43.42 and taken 17 wickets, including a five-wicket A decent tear in the muscles I can't pronounce. I came down here this morning trying to find ways just to contribute with the batting. After discussions with the medical team, it was decided. The risk was way too high. I wouldn't have expected anyone else in my place to risk this as well,' Stokes said in the pre-match press conference. Also Read: Ben Stokes to miss 5th Test against India, England make 4 changes to playing XIDespite the setback, Stokes expressed full confidence in his teammates to deliver when the final Test begins on Thursday, July 31.'One man doesn't win or lose you a game. Whether I'm playing or not it doesn't mean we'll win or lose. There are other players who are capable,' Stokes has shouldered a significant workload throughout the series, having bowled 140 overs - the most he has delivered in any series since the 2013-14 Ashes, where he bowled 117.5 Stokes, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse will also miss the final match of the series. England have called up Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue as playing XI for Oval Test:Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue- EndsTune InMust Watch

Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ben Stokes ruled out of 5th Test against India at Oval; England make 4 changes in their Playing XI for series decider
England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against India, owing to a right shoulder injury. Ollie Pope will step in as the skipper in The Oval Test, which will get underway on Thursday. England's Ben Stokes with head coach Brendon McCullum during the practice session(Action Images via Reuters) This is a massive blow for England as the in-form star was the Player of the Match in both the third and fourth Tests for his all-around performance. So far, he scored 304 runs in the four Tests, comprising a century in Manchester, and picked up 17 wickets, the most by any bowler in the contest, at 25.24, with one five-wicket haul. During the fourth Test, Stokes was forced to bowl lengthy spells after India batted for 143 overs across five sessions to pull off a draw. He bowled a total of 35 overs across the two innings and was seen clutching his shoulder during the spell. "I've got a decent tear of one of the muscles that I can't pronounce," Stokes told reporters on Wednesday. "Obviously we took as long as we could to make that decision. Obviously a bit of emotion going into this kind of stuff when you find out what you've done. "It's one of those where it was weighing up the risk reward, and the risk was way too high for damaging this any further than it currently is. I wouldn't expect to put any of my other players at risk with an injury like this." England reveal playing XI for 5th Test England, who announced their playing XI for the series finale, have made three other changes to the bowling line-up, with quicks Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse also missing out, alongside spinner Liam Dawson. England have included Jacob Bethell, who will bat at No.6. Surrey bowlers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton come into the side, along with Nottinghamshire quick Josh Tongue. England XI for fifth Test v India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue. Heading into the finale, England lead the series 2-1. They won the opener in Leeds by five wickets and clinched a thriller at Lord's. Their only defeat came in the second Test in Birmingham, where India, led by captain Shubman Gill, delivered a dominant 336-run victory. India, however, do not boast a strong record at The Oval. In 15 appearances at the venue, they have secured just two wins — the first in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar's captaincy, and the second 50 years later in 2021, under Virat Kohli.