For the fifth Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval, the starting eleven has not changed.

Even though he has only taken four wickets in three Tests, fast bowler James Anderson keeps his spot.

Australia leads the series 2-1 and still has the Ashes after the fourth Test, which was rained out.

When the last Test starts on Thursday, England hopes to tie the series at 2-2 and keep Australia from winning its first men’s Ashes series away from home since 2001.

Chris Woakes, a bowler who can also bat and field, kept his spot even though he hurt his leg in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Mark Wood will play in three Tests in a row for the first time since the last Ashes series in Australia in 2021-22.

Stuart Broad will be the only England bowler to play in all five Tests. He has taken the most wickets in the series so far.

Ollie Robinson, a fast bowler who took 10 wickets in the first three Tests but had trouble at Headingley because of a back pain, has been left out again.

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England’s XI is Ben Stokes (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood.

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Anderson, who is 40 years old, said that he has “no thoughts about retirement” even though he doesn’t have much of an effect in this series.

In his piece for the Telegraph on Tuesday, he wrote, “Ten or fifteen years ago, people would argue about whether or not I should be fired. Now the focus is on my future. I know what you mean.

“It’s The Oval, the last episode of a series, and discussion time.

“I might think differently if I was bowling badly, if my speed was slow, and if I was limping around the field. But they still feel hungry. I think my bowling is good and that I still have something to offer the team.”

Anderson also said that captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum still supported him.

He said, “They want me to stay, so as long as I’m still hungry and willing to work, I’ll keep doing my best for the team.”

This will probably be the last Ashes Test at home for many England players, since the next series in the UK won’t happen until 2027.

The next Ashes series in Australia will be in the winter of 2025–2026. Players like Anderson, Broad, Wood, and Woakes, who are all 34 or older, could be playing against Australia for the last time.

Moeen Ali, a 36-year-old spinner, is not expected to play in any more Tests after this series. He only came out of retirement to fill in for the injured Jack Leach.