England have announced their playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia, scheduled to be played at the Old Trafford from Wednesday, July 17.
In Leeds, England managed to keep the 2023 Ashes alive with a remarkable performance. Harry Brook played a crucial role in guiding the hosts to victory with an impressive score of 75 runs. Additionally, the match-winning partnership between Chris Woakes and Mark Wood propelled England over the finish line.
Despite being 2-1 down in the series, Ben Stokes and his team are determined to make a comeback. With another must-win game on the line in Manchester, England will be looking to seize the opportunity and level the series. Meanwhile, a victory for Australia will retain the Ashes for them.
For the upcoming Test, England have recalled veteran pacer James Anderson into the starting XI.
Anderson was rested for the third Test at Headingley following two relatively poor performances at Edgbaston and Lord’s in the initial two games of the 2023 Ashes. The 40-year-old seamer, who managed to pick just three wickets in four innings at an average of 75.33, will replace Ollie Robinson on home turf.
Old Trafford has proven to be a fruitful venue for Anderson throughout his career. In the 10 Tests he has played there, he has taken an impressive tally of 37 wickets at an average of 22.02. This average is more than four points better than his overall career bowling average of 26.21.
Furthermore, there is speculation that the fourth Test match might mark Anderson’s final appearance at his beloved home ground.
England’s playing XI for the 4th Ashes Test:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonathan Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
