England have named an unchanged squad for the final Ashes Test, resisting the temptation to draft in new blood with the chance to square the series.
Australia retain the urn after taking a 2-1 lead with a 185-run success on Sunday at Old Trafford but Joe Root's side can still stop the tourists recording a first series win in England since 2001.
The three-day turnaround before the fifth Test at The Oval always meant it would be hard for England to do anything dramatic to the make-up of their squad, but they retained the same XI plus Sam Curran and Chris Woakes, who missed out on selection in Manchester.
While further changes to an already depleted bowling line-up were always unlikely, there had been some expectation of alterations to the top seven.
Dominic Sibley of Warwickshire and Kent's Zak Crawley have impressed selectors but will not get a chance to debut in the final Test, while Surrey's Ollie Pope has also been kept waiting for a recall.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, whose name has returned to the fore given Jonny Bairstow's modest series with the bat, is another who might have been discussed.
Any combination of those four players might yet be seen on the winter tour to New Zealand, but any serious surgery to the squad has been delayed.
Question marks remain over the fitness of Ben Stokes. He injured his right shoulder over the weekend and did not bowl in Australia's second innings.
England are due to assess him over the next 48 hours but his batting, which brought a century at Lord's and a contender for best Test innings at Headingley, will guarantee his role as a specialist in the top five.
Selectors might consider drafting in Woakes or Curran as an allrounder with a batsman forced to make way.
Jason Roy is an obvious candidate given his issues, but it might also be possible to switch the gloves around and retain Jos Buttler at Bairstow's expense.
ENGLAND SQUAD:
Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.
Australian Associated Press
