JOE URGES AXED ROY TO KNUCKLE DOWN AND WIN BACK PLACE

JASON ROY’S Test future is in jeopardy after he was dropped for today’s Ashes finale at the Oval, as England look to end the summer with a series-squaring win over Australia. With Ben Stokes not fully recovered from the shoulder injury that prevented him from bowling in Australia’s second innings at Old Trafford last week, England will play him in place of Roy at No 4, and strengthen the bowling. Chris Woakes has been recalled after his omission in Manchester, while Sam Curran will make his Ashes debut on his home ground. Craig Overton misses out despite batting for nearly three hours as England fought in vain to save the Old Trafford Test. And with captain Joe Root regarding this game as the start of a new journey for his struggling team, Roy’s place will be reassessed when the squad is chosen for the two-match series

in New Zealand, starting in November. The 29-year-old has averaged 13 in this series and in Manchester was demoted to No 4 after totalling 57 runs in six innings as an opener. ‘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 Root. ‘But I’m sure he will go away and work extremely hard and come again. He’s very aware of where he’s at and what he needs to do to get himself in the best place to perform in Test cricket.’ Root called on his team for one last push to end a memorable but draining summer, urging them to send off outgoing head coach Trevor Bayliss ‘with a real big bang’. He added: ‘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. There are Test Championship points to play for as well. ‘In terms of my own captaincy, I know the direction I want to take this team and it is about starting that now and not after this series. It is important we win this game and have a really strong winter. ‘In terms of personnel, things might change, as they have done for a while, but we have to focus on the core group of players that can lead this team forward, both home and away, then build from that. We have to use the next two years to focus on putting in a winning tour to Australia (in 2021-22).’ The tourists have replaced middle-order batsman Travis Head with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, while their last bowling spot will be between Peter Siddle, who has not played since the second Test at Lord’s, and Pat Cummins, who played a full part in the World Cup and the first four Tests here. Cummins’ 24 scalps at 17.4 runs apiece make him the leading wicket-taker in the series.