England’s Playing XI for 4th Ashes Test: Usman Khawaja BULLY Ollie Robinson faces axe as James Anderson gets a recall

James Anderson missed the third Test as he was rested.

England’s Playing XI for 4th Ashes Test: Usman Khawaja BULLY Ollie Robinson faces axe as James Anderson gets a recall

James Anderson, Ollie Robinson (Images via TOI, The Cricket Lounge)

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday (17 July) announced England’s playing XI for the 4th Ashes Test. The Ben Stokes-led team has made only one change to their XI that played at Headingley and won the third Test. Veteran pacer James Anderson has replaced Ollie Robinson who did not have the best outing in the third Test at Leeds.

While Robinson went wicketless in the first inning where Mark Wood claimed a five-wicket haul, the Sussex pacer did not bowl at all in the second innings due to a back spasm. Although Robinson declared that he is 100 percent fit for the fourth Test, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum don’t want to risk it with the series on the line. 

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James Anderson will play at his home ground, at Old Trafford, and will hope to turn his fortunes around in the series. The veteran pacer has had a terrible outing as Anderson has managed three wickets at 75.33 in the first two Tests of the series. 

England’s Playing XI for 4th Ashes Test:  Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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In absence of Ollie Pope, Moeen Ali takes No.3 spot for 4th Ashes Test

moeen ali ball tampering
Moeen Ali (Image via Twitter)

As England have retained the same batting lineup for the fourth Ashes Test, Moeen Ali will be batting at No.3 in the absence of Ollie Pope. With the vice-captain ruled out due to an injury, England tried fitting Harry Brook at No.3 but to no avail. In the second inning, Moeen Ali came out to bat one down while Brook batted at his usual position i.e. No.5. 

Now, as revealed by Ben Stokes (via ESPNCrincinfo), the veteran all-rounder himself asked for a change in his batting order and will continue to bat at No.3 going ahead. 

“I just love the fact that Mo is willing to put himself in those situations; that he wants to get out there and help the team in a positive way… Mo going to Baz and saying, ‘I want the opportunity’ is everything that we’re about as a team,” Stokes said about Ali. 

Although the southpaw could not make a difference in the third Test, it will be interesting to see if Moeen Ali makes the most of the opportunity and plays an impactful knock while batting at No.3.

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