England have named an unchanged XI for today’s fifth and final Ashes Test at the Oval.
That means James Anderson retains his place despite underwhelming returns in the series and his long-time pace-bowling partner Stuart Broad is set to play all five Tests of the series.
It is highly likely to be an Ashes farewell for Anderson, who turns 41 on Sunday and who was described by Ben Stokes at the team announcement as the greatest fast bowler of all time.
All-rounder Chris Woakes was also in the side having proved his fitness after suffering with quad soreness in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
That rain-hindered draw meant Australia retained the urn but England can still draw the series 2-2 with victory in south London.
Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson miss out.
Ashes fixtures and full schedule
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First Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham – June 16-20 (Australia won by two wickets)
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Second Test, Lord’s, London – June 28-July 2 (Australia won by 43 runs)
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Third Test, Headingley, Leeds – July 6-10 (England won by three wickets)
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Fourth Test, Old Trafford, Manchester – July 19-23 (Match drawn)
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Fifth Test, The Oval, London – July 27-31
Trent Bridge has missed out on hosting a men’s Test, although it was the venue for the one-off Test in the women’s Ashes.
What time does each Test match start?
All five Tests are designated ‘day’ matches, commencing at 11am (BST), and each day’s play is scheduled to last until 6pm, although time can be made up to 6.30pm, if no breaks in play, to facilitate 90 overs. Lunch will be at 1pm and last for 40 minutes and tea at 3.40pm for 20 minutes.
What is England’s record in the Ashes at each ground?
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Edgbaston P16 W6 L5 D5
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Lord’s P40 W7 L18 D15
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Headingley P26 W9 L9 D8
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Old Trafford P31 W7 L8 D16
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The Oval P38 W17 L7 D14
What TV channel is the Ashes on? How can I follow it in the UK?
Live coverage
Sky has the rights for domestic Tests and is broadcasting all five matches exclusively live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.
More people tuned into the Edgbaston Test than any other in Sky’s history, with the peak audience of 2.12 million narrowly beating the figures for the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley, when Ben Stokes marshalled an extraordinary England heist.
TV highlights
The BBC has a highlights package and shows Today at the Test on BBC2 at 7pm after each day’s play.
Radio coverage
The BBC has the radio rights for domestic Tests and features ball-by-ball coverage (unless you are listening on longwave during the shipping forecast) on Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and via the BBC Sounds app.
TMS coverage is led as usual by Jonathan Agnew, alongside what it calls “an iconic commentary team” comprising Isa Guha, Simon Mann, Alison Mitchell, Daniel Norcross and Jim Maxwell, with summarisers Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Ebony Rainford Brent, Vic Marks and Alex Hartley. Andy Zaltzman returns as scorer.
Who is in the Ashes squads?
England named an unchanged squad and then an unchanged XI for the final Ashes Test at the Oval.
Selectors have kept faith with the same players who had them on the cusp of victory at Old Trafford.
Ben Stokes resisted any temptation to freshen up his bowling attack by bringing in Josh Tongue or Ollie Robinson.
England XI for fifth Ashes Test
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Australia squad for fifth Ashes Test
Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vice captain), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
What are the players saying?
Australia captain Pat Cummins has tried to play down suggestions that he is exhausted and frazzled by claiming that he feels fresher than he did before the final Test of the last Ashes series in England, in 2019.
The fast bowler went on to take five wickets in that match, despite England winning by 135 runs.
“I remember turning up here in 2019 for the fifth Test and I was wrecked,” Cummins said the Oval.
“It’s probably the only time in my career where I thought I genuinely might not be able to play.
“But I still did a decent job then, and I feel in a much better position now.”
Cummins added that although Australia have retained the Ashes, there was no feeling of their work being completed.
“We know that it wasn’t our best week last week and at the end of the game it was a bit of a pat on the back, ‘well done, we’ve retained the Ashes’ but really it feels like the job’s not done.”
Cummins’s captaincy has come under scrutiny after defeat at Headingley and a three-day thrashing at Old Trafford before rain spared Australia, with some critics Down Under suggesting it is time for him to pass on the mantle.
But England captain Ben Stokes offered his opposite number some support, saying: “I’m not sure why someone would say he should give it up.
“I don’t know who has made those comments but I think he’s done a great job for Australian cricket. It’s probably a little bit unwarranted from whoever said that – and that’s coming from an Englishman.”
