Star attractions absent as scheduling stymies blockbuster finale

England are missing Stokes and Archer as they seek to clinch Anderson-Tendulkar trophy while tourists may have to do without Bumrah for Oval decider

- Ali Martin

Much like the Dude in the Big Lebowski during his various moments of confusion, it was impossible not to repeatedly blink upon seeing England's XI for the fifth and final Test against India that starts today. Four changes, including the loss of Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope's return to the captaincy, took a few moments to process.

"I don't want to eat my words, but the likelihood I won't play is very unlikely," said Stokes after the stalemate at Old Trafford. While that quote needed scanning a few times, so did the gnarly right shoulder he was seen prodding and poking during what was a chastening failure to claim an unassailable 3-1 series lead. A grade-three tear to "a muscle I can't pronounce" was the upshot, Stokes confirmed yesterday, and his summer is now frustratingly over.

Not that some changes were not expected here. A series played on heartbreaking surfaces has left the quicks on both sides walking like a gaggle of C-3POs, although Chris Woakes, among those to play four, will go again. It would have been cruel to deny him in some ways, with the Oval pitch - battleground for the spat between Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, and Lee Fortis, Surrey's head groundkeeper, who have missed out - may end up cursing their misfortune.