England have strengthened their team ahead of the final fifth Test match against India at The Oval by bringing a fast-bowling all-rounder, Jamie Overton. Surrey pacer is the only addition to the group that played in Old Trafford, where India fought to pull off a last-gasp draw, having played five sessions and 143 overs in their second innings.
On having gained an enormous first innings lead of 311 runs, the side led by Ben Stokes was in a dominant position to clinch an unassailable 3-1 series lead. Nonetheless, the bowlers of England could only manage to take 4 wickets in the second innings, as Chris Woakes also got 2 wickets in his first over, meaning that India has also evened the series going into the final match.
Stokes indicated that the bowling line-up could use some added reinforcements, preferably by bringing on some extra legs in time before the final Test starts on Thursday, with a short turnaround. Woakes and Brydon Carse have played in every single match, and Jofra Archer has played consecutive Tests after a four-year bowling injury hiatus. Though Stokes himself has conceded that he is not very likely to be out of the match, the team management is going to be rotating the bowlers to ensure there is fitness and vigor.
Having received his sole Test cap in 2022, Overton will compete with his fellow seam bowlers Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue to be selected in the England squad of 15 players. Tongue (who made his mark in the early stages of the series by clinching 11 wickets in two matches) has been costly at times, and Atkinson has not played a first-class match since the England victory over Zimbabwe in May. Spinner Liam Dawson is set to stay put even though he has not fared very well in Manchester, as England seek to complete their attack line for the fourth clash of the series.
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