Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 30, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBen Stokes is out of the final test against India due to injury. Ollie Pope will captain England, leading 2-1 in the series. Archer is rested.
LONDON (Reuters) -England captain Ben Stokes will miss the fifth and final test against India at the Oval with a shoulder injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on the eve of the match beginning on Thursday.
Stokes was player of the match in the drawn fourth test in Manchester where the all-rounder smashed 141 and claimed six wickets with the ball.
"Captain Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a right shoulder injury," the ECB said in a statement on Wednesday.
In his absence, Ollie Pope will lead England, who are 2-1 ahead in the enthralling five-test series.
England also rested Archer, who played back-to-back tests at Lord's and Old Trafford in what is the injury-prone pacer's first test series in four years.
Pacer Brydon Carse and spinner Liam Dawson were dropped as England included the pace trio of Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue.
Jacob Bethell was recalled to replace Stokes at number six in the batting order.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Christian Radnedge)
Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a right shoulder injury, as confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Ollie Pope will lead the England team in the final test against India.
England has included Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue in the pace trio, while Jacob Bethell has been recalled to replace Stokes at number six in the batting order.
In the drawn fourth test in Manchester, Ben Stokes was named player of the match after scoring 141 runs and taking six wickets.
Jofra Archer was rested after playing back-to-back tests, marking his first test series in four years, as part of managing his injury-prone status.
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