Anderson ruled out of final Ashes test

England fast bowler 

James Anderson

England fast bowler James Anderson will not play in the final Ashes test against Australia at The Oval due to a side strain, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old, England’s leading test wicket taker, missed the fourth match at Trent Bridge which the hosts won by an innings and 78 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.

Mark Wood is likely to keep his place in the team in a four-man pace attack with Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Ben Stokes.

The fifth test starts on Thursday.