Ashes: Anderson and Hazlewood ruled out of final Test at The Oval

Captain Alastair Cook said that Anderson, who suffered the injury in the third Test at Edgbaston, was still around a week away from full fitness having only returned to bowl in the nets on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it,” said Cook. “He’s gutted about it. He’s made really good progress from where he was at Edgbaston but this is a week or so too soon.

“He bowled in the nets yesterday but at about 60-70 per cent and that’s not how you go into a game. He’s really gutted. The medical team have been brilliant with him but he’s still about a week away.”

Cook admitted the decision to leave out Anderson is perhaps easier for England with the Ashes already secured, but said he was happy with the depth of England’s bowling.

“Jimmy’s not fit,” he said. “As much hard work as he has put in, he’s not right. It’s a hard question to answer, if it was 2-2, but the way Mark (Wood) has come in and bowled in the series, certainly in the first game and the last game, we have options. Especially with Liam Plunkett as well, we have good strength in depth.”

Anderson’s absence means England are unchanged from the series-clinching win at Trent Bridge. There had been speculation that Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid would get his chance ahead of the winter tours of the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, but Cook said the team had been picked with victory at The Oval the only objective.

“We come into this game trying to win this series 4-1,” he said. “That’s what we’ve discussed. Adil has been with us in every single squad but the pitches haven’t quite suited two spinners so Adil’s had to wait for his chance.

“As a cricketer, he’s really improving and he feels a lot more comfortable in the England environment. There’s a one-day series to come so he’ll probably get his chance in that.”

Hazlewood Hazlewood, 24, has taken 16 wickets at an impressive average of 25.75 in the series despite the tourists surrendering the urn with a game to spare.

But coach Darren Lehmann has opted to sit him out of the finale due to a heavy recent workload and unspecified ‘niggling problems’.

“Josh has played six Tests since the West Indies Tour and the last nine Tests for Australia, as well as playing an important part in the World Cup,” said Lehmann.

“He has managed to get through this period without any major injury which is pleasing, though currently he does have some niggling problems that we would like to manage.

“As such, he was not considered for selection for the fifth Test. On his return to Australia his niggles will be investigated further and he will work with our coaches, and our medical and fitness staff to have him prepared for the next series he is selected to play in.”

Pat Cummins is in line to deputise, having had severe injury issues of his own in the four years since his one and only Test in South Africa.

He took 3-64 in last week’s rain-affected tour match in Northamptonshire to nudge ahead of veteran Peter Siddle, who went wicketless.