Follow UsEngland have announced their playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, with James Anderson replacing Ollie Robinson. That’s the only change in the team that defeated Australia in the third Test to keep the five-match series alive.
Both Anderson and Robinson haven’t done much in the ongoing series. Anderson picked up only three wickets in the first two Tests at an average of 75.33 and was dropped for the third game.
Meanwhile, Robinson has claimed 10 wickets @ 28.40 and a strike rate of 61.6. The 29-year-old had some issue with his back and could only bowl 11.2 overs in the third Test. All those overs came in the first innings, with him not being available for the second essay.
Stuart Broad is the leading wicket-taker in the series, while Mark Wood and Chris Woakes were brought in for the last Test, and both made match-winning contributions.
In the batting department, England will stick with Moeen Ali at No. 3. The hosts tried Harry Brook at No. 3 in the first innings but the ploy didn't work out, forcing them to try Moeen at that position. The rest of the batting order will remain the same, with Jonny Bairstow continuing to keep wickets.
England lost the first two Tests by two wickets and 43 runs respectively but managed to pull off an exciting three-wicket win in Leeds. The fourth Test will get underway on Wednesday (July 19).
England's playing XI - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.