Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has made a massive claim over the selection of veteran England bowler James Anderson as the fifth Ashes Test takes centre stage at the Oval.

Ashes 2023: Ricky Ponting makes BOLD claim over THIS English star for Oval Test, says 'I'd be very surprised'

Ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval, London, Australian opener David Warner reacted to former England skipper Michael Vaughan's speculation on his Test retirement.

Ashes 2023 | Don't have any announcement: Warner on his rumoured Test retirement after Vaughan's speculation

India and West Indies played out a tame draw in the second and final Test, in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad, after the final day's play got washed out on Monday (July 24).

IND vs WI: Ishan Kishan not in favour of England's Bazball, says it can only be executed on flat tracks

The final day's play of the fourth and penultimate Ashes Test, in Manchester, got completely washed out due to persistent rain. With the Manchester Test ending in a draw, Pat Cummins-led Australia retained the urn with an unassailable 2-1 lead.

Ashes 2023: Stern warning for Australia? England are massively up for final Test, says Zak Crawley

The second and final Test between India and West Indies, in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad, ended in a tame draw after rain played spoilsport on Day Five on Monday (July 24).

Updated WTC points table: Pakistan sit at top spot after India vs West Indies 2nd Test ends in draw

England had the edge over Australia in the fourth and penultimate Ashes Test, in Manchester, before rain played spoilsport on the final day with Australia trailing England by 61 runs with five wickets in hand in their second essay.

Australia will be hurting after Manchester Test, feels Mark Butcher after rain helps visitors retain the urn

After the second day’s play at Old Trafford, Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood, in a presser, said he would pray to rain Gods to help them retain the urn, and his prayers got answered, as the rain did washout day five to see this game end in a draw.

Ashes, 4th Test: Hazlewood’s prayers worked as rain played spoilsport to help Australia retain urn

England and Australia settled for a draw in the fourth and penultimate Test of Ashes 2023 after the final day's play, on Sunday (July 23), was entirely washed out by persistent rains.

Ashes 2023: 'Class is permanent' - Nasser Hussain defends under-fire James Anderson amid below-par run

Former English captain Michael Vaughan has put his fingers on England’s ‘sentimental selection’ of James Anderson in the fourth Test in Manchester as one of the reasons Australia got away with the draw and retained the Ashes.

Ashes: Unimpactful James Anderson lacked 'zip that he used to get', says Vaughan following Manchester draw

Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath wants Australia to go for the victory in the ongoing Ashes series during the last Test at the Oval. Australia are currently 2-1 up in the five-Test series.

Ashes 2023: Glenn McGrath points out Ben Stokes' decision that cost England a win in fourth Test

If not for anything, forcing a result out of an impossible situation is something Bazball has done to Test cricket and must get its dues. Under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, English Test cricket revived, the world got the entertainment they were craving, and results are likely to follow regardless of the conditions, pitch, line-ups and whatnot.

Ashes: England have made Test cricket approachable, attractive, says Sangakkara

England fast bowler Stuart Broad thinks it would be unjust if the weather decided the outcome of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester. There's a rain prediction for the final day of the Old Trafford Test, just like the fourth day which saw only 30 overs being bowled.

Ashes 2023: Stuart Broad says rain deciding Manchester Test would be 'unjust'

England’s hopes of keeping the Ashes 2023 alive took heavy dents on Saturday, July 22 as rain played spoilsport on the fourth day of the ongoing Manchester Test.

Ashes 2023: Rain derails England's winning hopes in Manchester Test; Labuschagne's ton adds insult to injury

England have tightened their grip over the Manchester Test after a dominating Day 3 on Friday, July 21. Australia will need a miracle to save the contest that still has six entire sessions with just six wickets in hand in the second innings.

Ashes 2023: England tighten grip over Manchester Test after Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow's fluent show on Day 3

Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood wouldn't mind rain interruption on day four of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford as England sit in a comfortable position to level the series 2-2.

Ashes: Hazlewood hopes rain forecast turns true on day four as England eye to level series in Manchester

Jonny Bairstow was left stranded on 99 in England's first innings in Manchester, but the keeper-batter didn't show remorse or grudge over being unable to complete his hundred.

Ashes: Jonny Bairstow grateful to deliver for England, narrates comeback story after career-threatening injury

Ashes is on the line, and Australia’s Mitchell Starc is not ready to drop the guard when his team needs him the most. Having suffered a nasty-looking blow to his shoulder while fielding during day two of the Manchester Test, Starc will continue to bowl on day three, per the team’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori.

Ashes 2023: Lion-hearted Starc will be ready to bowl despite shoulder injury scare, reveals Daniel Vettori

England’s Jonny Bairstow joined a special but unfortunate club on Friday, July 21 after he scored an unbeaten knock of 99 runs in the fourth Ashes Test. Bairstow, already in news in the Ashes for a controversial dismissal became just the second English player to remain stranded on 99.

Ashes 2023: Jonny Bairstow joins THIS elite club after unbeaten 99-run knock in Manchester Test

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara expects England to make the most of the momentum and go for the kill as they are on the front foot in the ongoing fourth Ashes Test in Manchester.

Kumar Sangakkara predicts Ashes series win for England if they beat Australia in Manchester Test

Australia had their worst day so far in the Ashes 2023 edition on Day Two of the fourth and penultimate Test at Old Trafford, Manchester on Thursday (July 20). Resuming at 299 for 8, Pat Cummins & Co.

Ashes 2023: Tim Paine backs under-fire Pat Cummins after Australia's poor show on Day 2 of Manchester Test

England made a mockery of Australia's bowling on Day Two of the fourth and penultimate Test at Old Trafford, Manchester on Thursday (July 20). After Australia resumed at 299 for 8, they were soon wrapped up for 317.

'Ashes 2023 has been spun on its head' - Former Aussie spinner after Zak Crawley's 189 in Manchester Test

England is in the driver’s seat following the second day’s play in the Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. Zak Crawley’s Ashes-saving 189 from 182 balls and Joe Root’s 84 off 95 balls have put England on the front foot as they lead Australia by 67 runs with six wickets in hand and three days left.

Ashes, 4th Test, day 2: Bazball strikes, puts England in driver's seat following Crawley, Root show

England are in a strong position on Day Two of the fourth and penultimate Ashes Test on Thursday (July 20). After dismissing Pat Cummins-led Australia for 317 early during the second day's play, the home side have crossed the 150-run mark for the loss of two wickets and are aiming for a big lead.

Ashes, 4th Test: 'He will end his career thinking...' - Nasser Hussain on England's star all-rounder

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has raised concern on Australia opting not to include a spinner in side for the crunch clash in the ongoing fourth Ashes Test.

Ashes 2023: Ricky Ponting raises concerns for Australia in key department, says ‘I was surprised...’

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