Former India player Sunil Gavaskar said that England had opted for a green top pitch for the 5th and final Test against India because they don’t have a lot of their wicket-taking bowlers at their disposal. England are coming into this match without Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Brydon carse who have taken the lion’s share of wickets this series.
“Arrey unke paas koi bowling hi hain nahi (They don’t have much of a bowling attack). this is why they have made such a pitch. Stokes has taken wickets, Archer has taken wickets and Carse has taken wickets. If they are not in your team, who will take wickets? This is why they have made such a pitch so that it helps bowlers like Tongue and Co,” Gavaskar said on Sony Sports on Thursday.
Stokes was ruled out due to an injury to his right shoulder, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday. Stokes was one of the four changes England have announced to their playing XI for the final Test.
Sunil Gavaskar on why England went with a green top at The Oval 🌱👀#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/n46WPcFYmQ
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 31, 2025
A statement from ECB announcing the England playing XI for the Oval Test said that besides Stokes, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, and Brydon Carse will also miss the game in London. Taking their place in the XI will be Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue with Ollie Pope captaining the team. ECB said that Bethell will bat at No 6.
Stokes has been crucial to England’s fortunes in the series against India. Not only is he the leading wicket-taker in the series with 17 scalps, he also scored his first Test century in two years in Manchester in the previous Test. Stokes was the Player of the Match in the last two Tests. The injury is the latest setback for the all-rounder after he was sidelined by two hamstring tears last year.
The fate of the India vs England series hangs on the fifth Test with England ahead with a 2-1 margin.
