Follow UsAfter bowling over 257 overs across the two innings in the fourth Test against India in Manchester, England, have added fast bowler Jamie Overton to the squad for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, starting July 31 (Thursday).
Overton is the only change England have made for the series finale, as skipper Ben Stokes had indicated after the drawn fourth Test.
"If you look at how long we've been out in the field and the overs that we bowled as a bowling unit, everyone is going to be pretty sore and pretty tired going into the last game of the series," he said after the fourth Test.
"There'll be an assessment of everyone, and hopefully we can use these next two or three days' rest period wisely and then have to make a decision.
"These recovery days are going to be pretty important, and we might have to make a few decisions to get some fresh legs in. But that won't be decided until we get closer to the last game."
Overton, whose solitary Test came against New Zealand three years ago, bowled 14 wicketless overs for Surrey against Yorkshire last week. While Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have been England's frontline pace options for the last couple of Tests, one could make way for Gus Atkinson or Josh Tongue, who are already part of the squad.
Atkinson played for Surrey 2nd XI last week and proved he is match fit after recovering from a hamstring injury. Skipper Stokes has bowled as many as 140 overs - the most he has bowled in any series. Woakes and Carse have also been overworked, having bowled 167 and 155 overs, respectively.
England currently lead the five-match series 2-1. India, who looked down and out at one stage in Old Trafford, will look to claw their way back in the series and end it all square.
England squad for the fifth Test against India: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes