England recall Anderson for fifth Ashes test

England named their 14-man squad for the fifth Test at The Oval with Jimmy Anderson replacing Mark Footitt as the only change. “He’s had a really tough 12-18 months, losing the captaincy of the one-dayers, but he’s really got his teeth into the Test captaincy”.

He added that he was proud that “right up to the last day of my career I can look myself in the mirror and say that I have left nothing in the tank in terms of my work ethic and trying my best”.

“When I first came into the team I had 11 older brothers helping me get into a position where I can help the team and hopefully I´ve done that”.

The man given the task of making England competitive again after a disastrous World Cup campaign, Bayliss said his team had laid the foundation for a period of prosperity.

Meanwhile Australia’s head coach, Darren Lehmann, has admitted mistakes were made by himself and his fellow selectors during their failed defence of the Ashes but has been assured of his job by the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

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

There have also been calls for more Australian players to take part in English county cricket as Lehmann did with great success for Yorkshire – now coached by his close friend Jason Gillespie, the former Australia Test fast bowler. England defeated Australia by an innings and 78 runs on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

“I can guarantee you, the feeling in this group is exceptional”, Clarke told Australia’s Triple M radio.

Root’s reward for plundering 443 runs – the highest amount in the series with one Test still to play – is for him to shoot to the top of the world rankings.

Speaking to Channel Nine yesterday, Clarke spoke on his own leadership of the Australian team.

“As we do after every tour, win, lose or draw, we will review performances and make assessments on things that have happened during the course of the tour”, he said.

“I’ll be honest, there were times when I thought Cooky was going to quit as captain”, England’s all-time leading wicket taker said in his column in the Sunday.

“I think that we need to stick together and keep the faith”.

“Happy to admit when we’re wrong, you don’t get everything right”.

“Selectors did not speak to me at all about being dropped or standing down or retiring”, said Clarke.

“His innings against India in Adelaide last summer stands as one of the most memorable and emotional episodes in the history of Australian sport”, Edwards said.