England imagine a 2-2 Ashes scoreline could be the fairest outcome for the collection, adamant the ultimate Test at The Oval isn’t any useless rubber.
Australia enter the finale with virtually all the pieces nonetheless to try for, up 2-1 however pushed by the need to win their first Ashes collection in England in 22 years.
England, in distinction, can not stroll away with Ashes urn and are as an alternative trying to avoid wasting face with a second straight drawn collection at dwelling.
But the hosts don’t see it that method.
Players are insistent they’ve matched it with Australia by way of the entire collection, following three thrilling Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Headingley.
The hosts additionally outplayed Australia at Old Trafford earlier than rain pressured a draw, re-enforcing England’s perception they deserve to complete stage on the scoreboard.
“I think 2-2 would be fair,” opener Zak Crawley stated.
“They had the better of us at Lord’s, Edgbaston could have gone either way, we probably deserved this one (at Old Trafford) and Headingley could have gone either way.
“We’re dissatisfied. We needed to win, we have been in an excellent place to win, and two days of rain price us. But that is how it’s.
“We’re massively up for (The Oval). Any game, you want to win.
“It felt like we have been getting on prime of them for certain and if we might gained this sport it will have been very attention-grabbing to see.”
England named an unchanged 14-man squad for the fifth Test, with bowling allrounder Chris Woakes under an injury cloud after pulling up sore from Old Trafford.
James Anderson’s spot is also under a cloud following an underwhelming series, with questions over how much longer the 41-year-old will continue.
That has put quicks Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson both back in the frame, after Tongue impressed at Lord’s and Robinson recovered from back spasms at Headingley.
Crawley’s spot is in no such doubt, with the English opener now the leading run-scorer in the series with 385 at an average of 55 following his lightning-fast 189 at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old believes Australia’s attack suits his game, a point emphasised by the fact his captain Ben Stokes claimed on Sunday that Crawley made Australia look a second XI side at times.
“Fast bowling fits my sport and the Australian assault is a fast assault. I believe a bit much less once they’re quicker,” Crawley stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
