E
ngland are assessing the health of Chris Woakes as attentions flip in the direction of this week’s Fifth Ashes Test on the Oval .
Australia retained the Urn following the weekend’s washout draw, with England now seeking to hit again and degree the sequence, which might deny the vacationers a primary away Ashes win since 2001.
Woakes has been excellent since coming into the facet for the Third Test victory at Headingley, taking 12 wickets in two matches, together with his first Ashes five-for within the first innings at Old Trafford final week.
However, the 34-year-old mentioned he was “extremely sore” following the sport in Leeds, which was his first Test in additional than a yr, and frolicked off the sphere throughout Australia’s second innings in Manchester, leaving him a doubt for this week.
England have tended to call their groups two days out from Tests on this sequence however, barring a late change of coronary heart, have been anticipated to delay that call till tomorrow, with a lot of gamers skipping this morning’s apply on the Oval to concentrate on restoration.
Australia are anticipated to make at the least one change, with spinner Todd Murphy set for a recall. Murphy was unnoticed at Old Trafford because the vacationers went with an all-seam assault however that tactic was partially a response to the climate forecast and the truth that a attract a shortened contest could be sufficient to retain the Urn.
The 22-year-old’s return would imply one in all Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh being unnoticed of the facet. Green is the extra more likely to be axed after a sequence of middling returns, however whereas Marsh is in wonderful type with the bat, there are considerations over his health to bowl.
