England's cricket captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against India due to a serious grade-three tear in his right shoulder, a blow that leaves England to reshuffle their lineup as they aim to close out the series with a 2-1 lead. The injury, aggravated during the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, has sidelined Stokes for an estimated six to ten weeks, though England's medical staff are optimistic about the shorter end of that recovery period. This means Stokes is expected to be fit in time for the Ashes series starting November 21, 2025, in Perth, Australia.
Stokes, 34, who has been a standout performer throughout this blockbuster series, expressed visible disappointment at missing the crucial final Test scheduled to begin Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Kia Oval in London. "I'm obviously disappointed. I've got a decent tear in the right shoulder. Weighing up the risk and the reward, the risk was way too high for further damage," Stokes said during a press conference. He added, "When I'm out on the field, I play to win. I gave absolutely everything I possibly can. There's a moment in the game where I can put everything aside because of how much this team means to me, how much playing for England means to me, how much winning means to me. But there is absolutely nothing more I could have done. Being a professional sportsman, injuries are part of this game. I can't do anything about that."
The injury was first noticed on the fifth morning of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where Stokes bowled 11 overs despite clutching his shoulder in visible discomfort. A scan revealed the grade-three tear, ruling him out entirely from bowling and ultimately from playing the Test. Stokes had initially hoped to at least bat, but after attending training at the Oval on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, he realized the risk was too great to take the field.
Stokes has been a dominant force in this series, taking 17 wickets — the most by any player on either side — and scoring a commanding 141 in the fourth Test, marking his 14th Test century and his first in two years. His all-round brilliance has earned him the Player of the Match award in the last two Tests, and he stands as a serious contender for the Player of the Series accolade with 304 runs and 17 wickets.
England's team management has confirmed four changes to the playing XI for the final Test. Ollie Pope, who bats at number three, will step up as captain for his fifth time, filling the leadership void left by Stokes. Pope has previously captained England four times in 2024, securing three wins during series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, though he is acknowledged to be a different style of leader compared to Stokes.
Jacob Bethell, a 21-year-old regarded as one of England's brightest cricketing prospects, will replace Stokes in the batting lineup at number six. Bethell is also a part-time left-arm spinner and, alongside Joe Root, will provide spin options on a pitch described as "a lot greener" with "more live grass than the other wickets," indicating favorable conditions for seam bowlers.
To bolster the seam attack, Surrey seamers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton are making their first appearances in this series, joining Nottinghamshire's Josh Tongue. Liam Dawson, who was recalled for the fourth Test, has been dropped, along with pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, both sidelined due to heavy workloads and fitness concerns. Chris Woakes remains as a key all-rounder and bowler, bringing experience to the side.
The Oval pitch's characteristics have influenced England's decision to field four seamers, a strategy that has paid dividends in the past 18 first-class matches at the ground. Stokes remarked, "The way the Oval generally plays, the seamers are the ones who take your wickets. We felt we had to have four seamers – this wicket looks like it has a lot more live grass than the other wickets we've played on, so I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot more assistance there for them. We've still got a team of 11 match-winners. One person doesn't win you a game. Just because I'm playing or I'm not playing doesn't mean we're going to win or lose. This is an opportunity for 11 different people to put their hand up and hopefully win a game for England."
On the Indian side, the team will be without vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who suffered a foot fracture but managed a valiant 54 in the previous Test despite the injury. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested due to declining form and fitness, though captain Shubman Gill has left the door open for his selection depending on conditions. India’s squad may include Akash Deep and a decision is pending on the inclusion of Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner.
The series has not been without its tensions. The drawn fourth Test ended with a controversial moment as England offered a handshake to India to signal a draw, but India’s Shubman Gill declined, opting to continue play until Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar completed their centuries. Stokes later commented, "We were right to offer the handshake, they were also right to say: 'No, we want our hundreds.' We're over it. I think India are over it. Let's try our best not to focus too much on a 20-minute period of cricket when it's been such a good series so far."
Further friction surfaced off the field when India head coach Gautam Gambhir clashed with the Oval’s head curator, Lee Fortis, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Gill described the incident as "absolutely unnecessary" but emphasized the generally good relations between the teams despite competitive heat on the field.
England’s confirmed XI for the fifth Test is: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue. India’s lineup remains to be announced but will be missing key players due to injuries.
As the final Test looms, the cricketing world watches closely to see how England copes without their inspirational leader and all-rounder Ben Stokes. With the Ashes series on the horizon, the stakes could not be higher for England to maintain momentum and secure this pivotal series win against India.
