Bopara axed for The Oval

Aug 16 2009

England have dropped Ravi Bopara and will hand a debut to Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott in the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.

The 28-year-old right-hander, who was in the squad for the fourth Test loss at Headingley, is set to bat at number four, having been given the nod ahead of the likes of Kent's Robert Key and Surrey veteran Mark Ramprakash.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "The final Test match is an absolutely vital game for the team with so much at stake and we have had to make some difficult selection decisions in choosing our squad.

"Ravi Bopara has been going through a tough time with the bat in this series and we have decided to leave him out of the squad for this game.

"He will be extremely disappointed, but remains very much part of our plans for the future and I am sure he has the talent and temperament to regain his place in the side.

"Ravi's omission means Jonathan Trott will make his Test debut.

"Having been part of the squad at Headingley, he was the next batsman in line in our view - this rewards him for the excellent form he has shown in county cricket both this summer and with England Lions over the winter.

"Ian Bell will bat at three next week, which is a position he has occupied for England before and we were delighted to see both him and Jonathan make centuries for Warwickshire this week."

Squad: AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IR Bell, IJL Trott, PD Collingwood, A Flintoff, MJ Prior, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, SJ Harmison, RJ Sidebottom, G Onions, MS Panesar.