England unchanged for fourth Test against Pakistan at The Oval
Thursday 11 August 2016 10:01, UK
England are set to name an unchanged team for the fourth and final Investec Test against Pakistan at The Oval, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 10am on Thursday.
The hosts lead the series 2-1 following their battling victory in the third Test at Edgbaston and they will retain the same XI as they go in search of a win which could put them top of the ICC's Test match rankings.
Hampshire batsman James Vince was taken to hospital for a scan after suffering an injury to the ring finger of his left hand while fielding in the slips at Edgbaston on Sunday, but he has been cleared to play on Thursday.
Nottinghamshire fast bowler Jake Ball and Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid were included in England's 13-man squad for the match, but their services will not be required unless there are any late injury scares.
There was some speculation that Rashid may be drafted into the side to start preparations for the winter tours of Bangladesh and India but England will stick with their tried-and-tested seam attack, and Moeen Ali as the spin option, following back-to-back wins at Old Trafford and in Birmingham.
"I think the pitch will turn later in the game, but we feel the seamers are bowling well and Mo took a massive stride in the last game, so hopefully he can continue," said skipper Alastair Cook.
"Sometimes it is very dangerous to look too far ahead. If we were 3-0 up in the series then you can definitely have an eye on the winter. The series is very much alive and we want to play well and win the series rather than look ahead and prepare for the winter. We have time to do that.
"Adil is going to keep gaining experience with the one-day internationals as well. In an ideal world for his development he would like us to give him a go, but unfortunately international cricket is not about giving a go, it's a results-driven business.
"We have to be fully focused on that at the moment. We are not in a position as a side that I feel we can do that. The guys are in a good space from Old Trafford as well."
Cook was a part of the previous England team that took over at the top of the Test rankings, but he does not feel the current side is at the same level yet.
"I genuinely would say it has come a little bit early for us," he said. "[But] if it comes it's a brilliant achievement and one you can be very proud of maybe when you are finished playing cricket.
"There are still questions that need to be answered. We are not at the levels we were in 2012; you knew the squad which was going to play, you knew how we were going to play and everyone had played 30 or 40 Test matches at the very least. We are a little bit off from that."
Team: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Garry Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson.
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