England captain Ben Stokes is ready to have "serious conversations" about an operation on his troublesome knee injury in a bid to set him on course for another tilt at the Ashes in 2025/26.
Effervescent seamer James Anderson is still motivated to perform for England in the final Ashes Test at the Oval.
England have named an unchanged squad for the final Ashes Test with a decision now required over seamer James Anderson's involvement at the Oval.
England's hopes of setting up a winner-takes-all Ashes decider were wiped out by the Manchester weather, with a fifth day washout in the fourth Test handing the urn to Australia.
England's chances of levelling the Ashes were just about alive after Joe Root claimed the only wicket of a rain-ruined fourth day at Emirates Old Trafford.
Jonny Bairstow took aim at his detractors, describing the criticism he has faced as "out of order" after lifting England into the box seat in the fourth Ashes Test.