England have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the fifth and final Test against India, with captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes ruled out due to a right shoulder injury. Stokes, who was instrumental in the Manchester Test with a superb 141 and a five-wicket haul, will miss the series finale at The Oval, starting Thursday, July 31.
In his absence, vice-captain Ollie Pope will step in to lead the side. England have made four changes to their playing XI. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have been rested, while spinner Liam Dawson has been left out. Fast bowler Josh Tongue, who featured in the first two Tests, returns to the side.
Gus Atkinson is also set to make his first appearance of the series. The right-arm quick, who last played a Test against Zimbabwe in May, had been sidelined with a hamstring injury but has since proven his fitness through a stint with Surrey’s second XI.
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Adding further depth to the pace department, Jamie Overton will play his second Test for England, his first since debuting against New Zealand in 2022.
❌ Stokes is out!
❌ Dawson, Archer and Carse also miss out
✅ Bethell, Atkinson, Overton and Tongue come in pic.twitter.com/DSHhFS2V9r— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 30, 2025
To fill the void left by Stokes in the batting department, England have turned to 21-year-old Jacob Bethell. The promising youngster impressed during the New Zealand tour earlier this year, scoring 260 runs in three Tests, including three half-centuries.
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Stokes has been England’s standout performer in the series, currently leading the wicket charts with 17 scalps at an average of 25.24. With the bat, he has amassed 304 runs at an average of 43.43, underlining his all-round value. England head into the final Test with a 2-1 lead, courtesy of wins in Leeds and a hard-fought victory at Lord’s.
England XI for Oval Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
