Roy dropped as England make two changes

11 Sep 2019 Sam Ferris

Ben Stokes to play as a batsman only in the fifth Test as England recall Chris Woakes and Sam Curran at The Oval

Jason Roy has been dropped from England's XI for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, with seam-bowling allrounders Sam Curran and Chris Woakes recalled.

Roy has averaged just 13.75 this series having started as an opener before moving to the middle order for the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

"Jason has had an opportunity to come in and play Test cricket and get a feel for it and it has not gone quite how he would have liked," said England captain Joe Root.

"But I'm sure he will go away and work extremely hard and come again.

"That is what you expect of guys when they get left out and I'm sure he will have that attitude and want to try and prove a point and get himself back into the side."

ENGLAND XI: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach

AUSTRALIA XII: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (one to be omitted)

Curran and Woakes come in for Roy and seamer Craig Overton, while allrounder Ben Stokes will not bowl in the series' finale after hurting his right bowling shoulder in Manchester.

"It would be a risk to take (Stokes) into the game as fourth seamer," Root said.

"He might be able to bowl a couple of overs here or there, but his batting is a massive part of this side and rightly deserves to be in the team as a top four batter."

Woakes returns having played the first three Tests of the series before being dropped for the fourth Test in Manchester,

The right-armer has taken nine wickets at 29 in the series and replaces Overton, who captured 2-107 at Old Trafford.

The Oval is the home ground of Curran, who has played 10 Tests, the last of which against Ireland at Lord's ahead of the Ashes.

Root describes the left-armer as a "fierce competitor" who has experienced a frustrating summer with injury and circumstance.

"(Curran) will come out this week and he’ll try and show everyone how good a player he is," Root said.

"It has been unfortunate and frustrating for him. He's had a summer with coming from the IPL then picking up an injury, the World Cup coming when it did and not playing a huge amount of red ball cricket coming into this series.

"It has fallen against him slightly and I think that has frustrated him but one thing that he will always do is come back and try and prove a point and he has continued to work very hard.

"He has an opportunity to play this week and I am sure we will see that fierce competitor we have already seen in Test cricket."

Roy misses out due to team balance: Root

While England cannot regain the Ashes, the home side will be determined to end a historic summer on a winning note.

"It is bitterly disappointing not to have the Ashes back but we haven’t lost anything yet and we have to make sure we square the series up," said Root.

"There are Test Championship points to play for as well, which down the line could make a huge difference.

"There is plenty to play for and guys are fully aware of that and very determined to make sure we finish the series two-all."

ENGLAND XI: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Fourth Test: Australia won by 185 runs at Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval