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Stokes tells England to not be 'insular' in Sydney
Captain Ben Stokes said his England players should not be protective of their positions in the final Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney.
Stokes' men have already lost the series and the aftermath of Ashes defeats are often the signal for changes in the England team.
England have declined to finalise their XI for the contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in advance and will instead name their team at the toss for the fifth Test on Sunday (23:30 GMT Saturday).
"There shouldn't be any reason for anyone to get individual or insular about what they want to do this week," said Stokes.
"As soon as someone starts thinking about their own performances it becomes quite easy to see through.
"One thing I've managed to get into this group is that everything you do, think, and say is always about what's best for the team and not yourself.
Whoever goes out there this week, everything they do and every decision they make will be about what the team needs.
England named a 12-man squad for the fifth Test on Friday. Seamer Matthew Potts looks set to make his Ashes debut in place of the injured Gus Atkinson, potentially leaving a choice between Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks.
Bashir began the tour as England's first-choice spinner, but has so far been overlooked in favour of all-rounder Jacks. England's decision would appear to hinge on how big a role they believe spin will play.
The SCG has historically aided spinners, though the ground has lost that reputation in recent years. Across this Ashes series, only nine wickets have fallen to spin.
Australia have also opted against naming their team, with the Sydney surface the subject of much speculation after a grassy surface for the fourth Test in Melbourne resulted in England winning inside two days.
By Saturday the SCG pitch had lost the green colour it had earlier in the week. Rain is forecast for Sunday's first day, possibly shortening the Test and limiting the impact spin could have.
"It's quite a difficult one," said Stokes. "I don't think a groundsman's ever been under as much pressure as here this week.
"We try to act like we know what we're doing when we look down at the pitch, rubbing it and knocking it. No-one really has a clue.
"You can only try and give yourself the best chance of getting the XI needed to get a chance of winning.
We all play a good game by pretending we know what we're doing looking at the wicket.
England were incredibly disappointing as they lost the first three Tests in just 11 days to surrender the series at the earliest opportunity.
But the tourists won the fourth Test in Melbourne to earn their first victory in this country for almost 15 years.
All of Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key have said they want to stay in their jobs despite this Ashes defeat.
While Stokes seems likely to remain, the positions of McCullum and Key would come in for more scrutiny if England lose at the SCG.
Conversely, former captain Michael Vaughan has previously said England's victory in Sydney at the end of a 4-1 Ashes defeat in 2002-03 was the beginning of their road to an epic series win on home soil in 2005.
"The Ashes for us, unfortunately, hasn't gone the way we wanted it to but we've got one more game in a big game in a big series," said Stokes.
England's next Test is not until the beginning of a three-match series at home to New Zealand in June.
Including the Test in Sydney, England have 14 matches before the next Ashes series at home in the summer of 2027.
However, Stokes is not viewing this match as a springboard for regaining the urn next year.
That's so far away from where we are right now," said the 34-year-old. "We've got a big Test to play here and a big gap until our next series. All that is time for reflection. Right now isn't the time do that.
As has become a Sydney tradition, the fifth Test will have a pink theme for the Jane McGrath Foundation, a charity created in memory of the late wife of legendary Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath.
It will mark the final Test in the career of Australia batter Usman Khawaja, who announced on Friday this will be his last international match.
Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith, three years Khawaja's junior at the age of 36, has confirmed he will not be following him into retirement yet.
This is Australia's last Test until a home series against Bangladesh in August, which marks the beginning of a busy schedule leading towards the 2027 Ashes.
Australia have not won a series in England since 2001 and Smith is yet to indicate if he intends to make that trip.
I'm obviously older and wiser," he said. "Maybe I'll wake up one day and be like 'that's enough'. Who knows? Right now I'm not going anywhere.
Source: BBC
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