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Ben Stokes out of fifth Test: England make four changes for pivotal India clash as captain absent through injury

England captain Ben Stokes will not feature in the fifth Test against India at The Oval with the home side making as many as four changes.

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth Test match with India due to injury.

Stokes earned the Player of the Match award in the fourth Test last week after taking five wickets and hitting a century during the first innings.

However, the 34-year-old visibly struggled fitness-wise as the match progressed, cramping up with the bat and having a shoulder issue while bowling.

Despite putting himself through the pain barrier and insisting several days ago that he remained likely to play at The Oval, it has been revealed that he is absent from the starting XI for the upcoming pivotal contest.

As a result, Ollie Pope will replace him as captain, and there have been a total of four alterations made to the team.

Gus Atkinson of England looks on during the England v Sri Lanka 2nd Rothesay Test Match on August 31, 2024

England make four changes for India fifth Test

Stokes is joined on the sidelines by Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse and Jorfa Archer, the latter not being risked having played two successive matches on his comeback to the five-day arena.

Carse has also been involved in all four Tests, the decision being taken to show preference to fresh bodies over sticking with a tiring attack.

As a result, England will line up with three new fast bowlers at the bottom of their lineup, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue stepping up in the aforementioned trios places.

Twenty-one-year-old Jacob Bethall comes into the team at number six for just his fourth Test match, expectations high after he averaged 52 over three Test matches in New Zealand at the back end of 2024.

He also offers a left-arm spin option as England rarely line up without an out-and-out spin bowler.

England go into the final match holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

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Ben Duckett, Joe Root steer England to all-time classic victory over India in first Test

England take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series with India with a near-miraculous run chase to record a five-wicket victory over India at Headingley.

England have pulled off one of the all-time great Test match victories in earning a five-wicket win over India at Headingley.

Tasked with chasing down 371, Ben Stokes‘s side made relatively light work of their target for one of the highest run chases in history.

Not only did it represent the second highest chase in England’s Test history, it was the first time that a team with five individual hundreds had ever suffered a defeat in a Test match.

Most importantly, a 1-0 lead has been established in the best-of-five series, India left with much to ponder after they were once on 430-3 in their first innings.

Starting on 21-0, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set the tone with a majestic opening partnership of 188, India only making the breakthrough shortly after a rain delay.

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While Crawley went for 65, Duckett continued along his merry way, reaching 149 from 170 deliveries that featured 21 fours and one six.

Harry Brook being dismissed for a first-ball duck set the cat amongst the pigeons, Shardul Thakur’s double salvo leaving England on 253-4 and still requiring 118 runs.

Stokes and Joe Root would steady the ship, the skipper making 33 from 51 balls before his exit from the scene of his greatest moment six years ago.

Root, as you would expect, stood firm and along with Jamie Smith, whose composure exceeded his minimal experience at this level, got England home with wickets and time to spare.

On his home ground, Root made 53 from 84 and Smith 44 from 55, two sixes coming off what proved to be the final over as England made 373-5 at a run-rate of 4.54, adding yet another chapter into the Baz-ball folklore.

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