BIRMINGHAM: England named an unchanged squad on Sunday for the fourth and final Test at the Oval starting on 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 on 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 match of the summer,” the former England off-spinner added.
“The performance at Edgbaston was of the highest quality but the team will now re-focus on finishing the series in a strong manner with much still to play for,” Miller said.
Squad:
Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn.
England have a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.
