All roads lead to Oval

UPBEAT INDIA BRACE FOR GRUELLING SERIES DECIDER AT THE OVA!

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

India's prospects of signing off the UK tour with some serious bragging rights brightened by a few notches on the eve of fifth Test with England’s talismanic skipper Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer rendered unavailable for the game starting Thursday.

Stokes, the inspirational skipper who pushed the limits of his body while bowling in the last two Tests, was ruled out with a muscle tear on his right shoulder while comeback man Archer was rested after the workload of playing in back-to-back matches.

Pacer Brydon Carse and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson have also been rested.

There are players whose “mere presence makes a difference and the England skipper, a world class all-rounder with 304 runs and 17 wickets in the series, is one such character.

What the English team will miss most at The Oval is his inspirational presence when the chips are down and showing the way how it is done.