Anderson returns as England names squad for 5th Ashes test

Lauding Michael Clarke’s leadership, Indian Test captain Virat Kohli on Sunday congratulated the retiring Australian skipper for his “magnificent cricket journey” which would end with the fifth and final Ashes Test against England. It was his second hundred of the series, his first (134) coming in England’s 169-run win in the first Test in Cardiff.

24-year-old Root made 130 in the fourth match at Trent Bridge to help England crush Australia by an innings and 78 runs to reclaim the Ashes.

He will play the final Test at The Oval on August 20 before the curtain comes down on a distinguished career.

“I don’t think Michael would have wanted to tour Bangladesh prior to the 2015-16 Australian summer, which would have made for some hard decisions…”

Aside from a big hundred at Lord’s in July 2013, Root only passed 30 once in seven innings against Australia and in the return series three months later he averaged 27.42 which subsequently led to his axing.

His replacement Peter Nevill fared well at headquarters, and Australia’s selectors had to make the call to keep the younger man in their side for the remaining matches.

England 5th Test squad: Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Alastair Cook (Essex, captain), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham), Steven Finn (Middlesex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire).

“My game is nowhere near flawless”, he said.

“We overtly say we want to be the best cricket team in the world and to be the best cricket team in the world you have to be able to win both home and away”.

“As far as captaincy is concerned, Cooky has done exceptionally well”.

“I just feel so fortunate to have played any matches for Australia and for as long as I have”, she said.

“There is no disharmony is this group whatsoever”, he told Sydney radio station Triple M. “The players are as tight as any team I’ve been a part of“.

“But he is making a decision that the time is right and I think his judgment is appropriate”.

But home hopes are still high at Canterbury, and Edwards said: “We’re looking forward to trying to get back into this series, and four points would be fantastic right now if we can get them”.