Ashes 2019: ECB announces fourth Test squad; James Anderson ruled out of the series

The 2019 edition of the Ashes is well and truly alive with the series level at 1-1. With all to play for, Australia and hosts England will head to the Old Trafford in Manchester, the venue for the fourth the penultimate Test. The contest gets underway on Wednesday, September 4. In the meantime, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a 13-man squad for the upcoming encounter.

Jason Roy has been persisted with despite his constant failures. The Durban-born has an average of below 10 and hasn’t got going in the high-profile series. Sam Curran was a part of the squad for the first two Tests at the Edgbaston and Lord’s respectively but was left out for the third Test at the Headingley in Leeds. The southpaw has now been re-included in the squad for the next contest.

Curran impressed a lot against India in 2018 after making his Test debut versus Pakistan in the same year. Even as he was out of the team, Curran plied his trade for Surrey in the T20 Blast. Joe Denly did himself a favor, scoring a well-complied half-century in the second innings of the previous Test. It was his 100-plus stand with skipper Joe Root that stared scripting England’s one-wicket victory.

Craig Overton returns to Test cricket after 17 months

The management has also decided to include fast bowler Craig Overton, who made his Test debut in the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia. However, he has played only a couple of Tests thus far and is making a comeback after a gap of more than 17 months. Overton was impressive in the County Championship Division One. The speedster picked up 32 wickets in only eight matches.

He also put forth his abilities with the bat, having scored 216 runs at an average of 19.63. The 25-year-old is currently representing his county in the T20 Blast. Ben Stokes gave it his all in the last game and his stupendous all-round efforts under extreme pressure paid dividends.

Jofra Archer will again be on focus, more so as Steve Smith is most likely to return after missing the last game. Meanwhile, James Anderson has been ruled out of the series due to the calf injury, which he developed after bowling a few overs in the Birmingham Test.

Here is the England squad

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

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