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Jack Leach and Jos Buttler included in England squad for fifth Test against India at Old Trafford

Spinner Leach and wicket-keeper Buttler are both part of England's squad for the decisive fifth Test against India, which starts at Old Trafford on Friday, September 10; watch live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Friday

England spinner Jack Leach
Image: England spinner Jack Leach is back in the squad

Jack Leach and Jos Buttler have been included in England's 16-man squad for the final Test of their five-match series against India, which starts on Friday, September 10.

Spinner Leach took 28 wickets in six Tests last winter but hasn't played for England since early March. He could replace Moeen Ali as the front-line spinner at Old Trafford, where England will be looking to level the series at 2-2 after losing by 157 runs at The Oval.

Buttler missed the fourth Test as his wife gave birth to their second child.

Jonny Bairstow kept wicket in his place and Ollie Pope was also added to the squad. Pope marked his return to the side with 81 in the first innings, but could now miss out on a place in the XI.

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Former England bowler Ryan Sidebottom says Joe Root's side will 'rue missed opportunities' after losing the fourth Test to India at the Oval by 157 runs

Craig Overton is in the squad despite taking a blow to the elbow when he batted in the fourth innings at The Oval. James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood and Sam Curran join Overton in the bowling department.

Anderson and Robinson have both had heavy workloads this series, leading the way for the amount of overs bowled with 163.3 and 166.2 respectively.

With an Ashes series coming up this winter, there have been questions over whether Anderson, 39, should be rested for the fifth Test.

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"It's something we have to keep an eye on but we had to try and win this Test and put our best foot forward going into the next one," said England head coach Chris Silverwood after defeat at The Oval.

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"He [Anderson] and I will have a conversation together, he will have input into that without a shadow of a doubt, James knows his own body and he will certainly give me an honest opinion of where he is at, and it is certainly one I will listen to. I know he won't want to miss any cricket but we have to look after him."

Batsman Sam Billings, who was included in the fourth Test squad, has returned to Kent.

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Joe Root says 'smart decisions' need to be made over England's bowling attack for the fifth and final Test against India at Old Trafford

England squad for the fifth Test

Joe Root

Moeen Ali

James Anderson

Jonathan Bairstow

Rory Burns

Jos Buttler

Sam Curran

Haseeb Hameed

Dan Lawrence

Jack Leach

Dawid Malan

Craig Overton

Ollie Pope

Ollie Robinson

Chris Woakes

Mark Wood

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