England could make two changes for the final Test of the thrilling Ashes series. Rain has prevented the hosts from pulling off a comeback but they still have the chance to stop Australia from winning a Test series in this country for the first time since 2001.
Rain completely washed out the final day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday. A start time of 1pm gave some hope but the rain swiftly returned and did not relent for the remainder of the day in Manchester.
England skipper Ben Stokes was understandably downbeat when speaking to the media after the match. The hosts were in a dominant position and were set to level the series up at 2-2 if enough play was possible.
That wasn’t the case and Australia will be taking the urn home. However, the series is still not won and, like in 2019, England will be aiming to stop the Aussies in the final Test at the Kia Oval.
Despite the ultimate aim of winning the series out of their reach, England are unlikely to make wholesale changes in south London. There could be a couple of tweaks to the bowling line-up, depending on how each player pulls up.
It remains to be seen if Mark Wood is capable of playing back-to-back Tests. He again shone at Old Trafford, claiming three second innings wickets late on day three.
Pulling on the boots again on Thursday may be a stretch too far for the injury-prone Durham seamer. The lack of action he had over the weekend could boost his chances.
However, if England do not want to risk him, Josh Tongue is waiting in the wings for his chance. He excelled in his only Test of the series at Lord’s but was rested at Headingley and not brought back in at Manchester.
Tongue is not as quick as Wood but would be a point of difference to the other England bowlers if Wood doesn’t play. Ollie Robinson could also come straight back into the side.
He was left out of the team for the fourth Test after the back spasm he suffered in Leeds. But he is now back fit and could come in for either Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad.
Broad is the only England bowler to have played all four Tests and, at 37, a fifth in the space of six weeks could be a stretch too far. Anderson, meanwhile, again struggled at his home ground, picking up just the one wicket in 37 overs.
There is no hint yet that he could retire after this series. But he turns 41 in the middle of this match and may see it as a good time to bow out.
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