England unchanged for the Fourth Test
England named an unchanged squad on Sunday for the fourth and final
Test at The Oval starting Thursday.
World cricket’s new number one Test team decided against recalling
batsman Jonathan Trott after the Warwickshire star’s shoulder injury saw
him miss out on the innings and 242-run defeat of India at his Edgbaston
home ground completed Saturday.
That win meant England replaced India atop the ICC Test Championship
table and gave the hosts an unbeatable 3-0 lead in this four-match
series.
Fast bowlers Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett, the former called in as
cover for the latter, who has been struggling with back and hamstring
problems, remain in the 13-man squad after they both failed to make the
final XI that played in the third Test.
Ravi Bopara, brought in for Trott after the Sout Africa-born batsman
injured himself while fielding in the 319-run second Test win at Trent
Bridge, retained his place.
That was despite Bopara making just seven in England’s mammoth 710
for seven declared at Edgbaston.
But it appears England are set to stick with the policy of playing
six specialist batsmen they’ve employed during their rise to the top of
the Test match rankings. England national selector Geoff Miller,
explaining the composition of the squad, said Sunday: “Jonathan Trott is
making steady progress in his rehabilitation from his ongoing shoulder
injury but he requires further treatment and won’t be fit for the fourth
and final npower Test match.
“As such Ravi Bopara retains his place in the squad. “Chris Tremlett
is available for selection following continued treatment for his back
injury and he and Steven Finn are included in a broader 13-man squad for
the last Test.
England fourth Test squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian
Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim
Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett,
Steven Finn.
AFP |