Stokes out of fifth India Test with shoulder injury

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth Test against India, which starts at The Oval on Thursday, because of a shoulder injury.

Ollie Pope will lead the side in Stokes' absence while Jacob Bethell will bat at number six.

There are also three changes to the bowling line-up with quicks Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, who has played all four Tests so far, also missing out alongside spinner Liam Dawson.

Seamers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton are included while Chris Woakes retains his place, meaning he will have played every Test of the series.

All-rounder Stokes struggled across the final three days of the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, as he bowled 24 overs in India's first innings but only 11 in their second.

He was seen struggling with his right shoulder in the warm-up on day five and was continually prodding at it during his bowling spell.

It is a significant blow to England considering his superb form that has seen him back-to-back player of the match awards.

He took 5-72 with the ball in India's first innings in Manchester, then followed up with 141 with the bat, becoming only the fourth England man to take a five-wicket haul and score a century in the same Test.

It leaves England's seam bowling attack looking light. Tongue took 11 wickets across the first two Tests, Woakes has taken 10 while Overton has only played one Test, which came against New Zealand in 2022.

Atkinson also makes his return from injury for his first appearance of the series, having hurt his hamstring during England's one-off Test v Zimbabwe in May. He has played just one second XI game since.

Without a specialist spinner, Bethell and Root are the part-time options.