Mitchell Marsh in to aid pace battery as Travis Head dropped

Travis Head ‘still important part of team’s future’ despite making way for Mitch Marsh.

In and out ... Travis Head (right) has been dropped for the Fifth Ashes Test, with Mitchell Marsh (left) taking his place. Picture: Getty Images

Concerns about workloads have seen Travis Head dropped and Mitchell Marsh’s career resuscitated for the last Ashes Test.

The allrounder was named in the 12-man squad and will play but selectors kept their bowling options open by also naming Peter Siddle, who has not played the last two Tests.

“Looking at the conditions and the series being a long and tough one we’ve kept the same bowling group together as the last Test match — they’ve bowled a lot of overs and we feel bringing Mitchell in will ease the workload on them,” said captain Tim Paine.

“It was a really tough call on Travis Head. He has had a tough start to his Test career.”

Head made a half century at Birmingham and 42 not out in the second innings at Lord’s but has struggled like most batsmen in the conditions. Paine said he was still an important part of the team’s future and would be better suited at home.

England, meanwhile, has made two changes, dropping Jason Roy and Craig Overton to bring in Sam Currran and recall Chris Woakes.

Roy, a champion in the one-day game, began the series as an opener but dropped down to No 4 last match. He has looked at sea against the red ball.

While England examine the reasons for their inability to win the Ashes at home for the first time since 2001, Tim Paine’s side are pressing for a victory at The Oval that will ensure the first ­series win since Steve Waugh’s team achieved a 4-1 result all those years ago.

Cummins has bowled more overs (164.1) in the series than any seamer, with only Stuart Broad (148.1) close to a similar workload.

The No 1-ranked bowler has a series-high 24 wickets at 17 but is backing up from a World Cup where he played all 10 games.

The Australians have rotated every other bowler and Paine admits they are conscious of his output.

“Pat’s someone we’re looking at what’s the best option for him and the team,” he said. “He’s certainly one of those people there’s no doubt about that, he’s had a huge workload, he’s very, very keen to play and we’re keen to have him play.

“We’ll see how it plays out but like all our fast bowlers, same with James Pattinson, we’ve said we want to keep these guys playing cricket for Australia for as long as we possibly can and we’re lucky at the moment we’ve got five or six really exciting pace bowlers so we can afford to mix and match to the conditions that we get.”

Cummins can, however, put his feet up after the fifth Test as there is no cricket scheduled until a T20 series against Sri Lanka late next month, while Pattinson has been overlooked.

He has been Australia’s most consistent performer since returning to Test cricket in 2017 and has further consolidated his ranking as the world’s best in the Ashes.

The team has six fast bowling options for three places. It must decide if it will use Mitchell Starc for just his second match of the ­series, but also has Siddle ready to go. Michael Neser is fit but won’t play a Test on this tour.

Warner get another chance at The Oval despite producing seven single-innings scores in the series. In 2001 Langer got his chance when Michael Slater was dropped for the corresponding match.

‘There’s always pressure on David Warner, everywhere you go he’s a cricketer that opposition teams want to get out and want to get on top of,” Paine said.

“He’s a really important part of our team. He hasn’t had the series he would’ve liked, but two hits ago he got 60-odd in the toughest conditions at Headingley.

“I’ve got full confidence in David that when he does click into gear he’s going to win us a Test match and I think it’s going to be this one.

“What I love about David is regardless of whether he’s been scoring runs, he’s exactly the same, he’s really consistent around the group.

“He’s the same competitive person on the field ... he’s still been putting pressure on opposition teams with the way he is in the field.

“And we love playing with him when he’s like that. Hopefully he gets a couple of big scores this week.”

Steve Waugh was impressed by Warner’s training sessions in the lead-up to the Test and backed him to succeed at The Oval.

“I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t do well in this Test,” he said on SEN.