England drops Bopara, brings in Trott for Ashes finale

LONDON - England will give Warwickshire opener Jonathan Trott a Test debut against Australia at The Oval next week as they seek to reverse the horrors of Headingley by pulling off a victory to regain the Ashes.

Essex batsman Ravi Bopara is the only batsman to be dropped from the squad. Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell will take his place at No.3, the Guardian reports.

The England selectors have said that they felt that Bopara’s form and confidence had deteriorated sufficiently for him to be jettisoned for the fifth Test.

England’s coach, Andy Flower said: “Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he (Bopara) hasn’t managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series.”

“It’s a tough situation for him, but he is a pretty calm bloke, so he’s keeping it in perspective,” Flower added.

After a week of fervent speculation, there is no place for Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash or Kent opener Rob Key, both of whom are among the top scorers in English county cricket.

Flower and captain Andrew Strauss told the selectors that sweeping changes to the middle-order would play into Australia’s hands by indicating that England had lost faith in their entire Ashes strategy.

Bell got the selectors nod after making 126 in six hours against Nottingham in an innings of great patience and technical merit.

They now hope he can repeat it at No.3 in a Ashes Test.

Trott will get an early chance to impress, as he is in the England Lions side who face Australia in a two-day game starting at Canterbury today.

England are expected to name 14 men, adding Northamptonshire’s Monty Panesar to the squad from Headingley. (ANI)