England have named an unchanged squad for this week’s fifth and final Ashes series Test at The Oval in London.

Batsman Jason Roy has been retained despite a poor stretch of form through the first four Tests. He has perished in single figures on four occasions and his highest score is just 31.

The South African-born right-hander was bowled twice in last week’s fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, as Australia exploited an evidently shoddy defence.

All-rounder Ben Stokes has been included in the 13-man squad despite nursing a minor shoulder injury. He will play as a specialist batsman if unable to bowl, according to the England and Wales Cricket Board. Fellow all-rounders Chris Woakes and Sam Curran are also in the squad.

The Australians retained the Ashes title on the back of a 185-run victory in Manchester. They had won in Birmingham, lost in Leeds and drew with England at Lord’s.

Australia won eight successive Ashes titles from 1989 to 2003. England won five of the next seven, before the Aussies reclaimed the title with a 4-0 win in 2018 and retaining it in 2019.

Squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (w-k), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

Photo: Getty Images