LONDON, Sept 7: England and Australia are facing key selection decisions ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test starting at The Oval here on Thursday with injuries to key bowlers casting a cloud over both sides’ preparations.

England arrive at The Oval 2-1 up and needing only to avoid defeat to win their first Ashes series since 1986-87.

But having been on the brink of fielding an unchanged team in a five-match Ashes series for the first time since 1884-85, England lost Simon Jones on Tuesday to the ankle injury that sidelined the Glamorgan quick from the second half of their three-wicket fourth Test win at Trent Bridge.

The 26-year-old reverse swing specialist had troubled Australia throughout the series with his movement, taking 18 wickets at 21 runs apiece.

Now, to fill Jones’s shoes England must decide between batting all-rounder Paul Collingwood, who has scored six first-class hundreds this season, and paceman James Anderson who played the last of his 12 Tests in the northern winter in South Africa.

With England needing just a draw there is a temptation to select Collingwood given Australia must take 20 wickets to square the series and so retain the Ashes.

And Australia captain Ricky Ponting told reporters: “Jones has been a good bowler for them. With him out, I will be surprised if they don’t play Collingwood now.”

He added: “I am sure that will put more pressure on Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, who will probably all have to do more bowling.”

But England captain Michael Vaughan insisted picking either Collingwood or Anderson could be seen as a positive move.

“It can be attacking (playing five specialist bowlers) but it can also be attacking by playing an extra batter and getting a few more runs on the board.

“Considering we’ll have seven weeks’ rest afterwards I don’t think the workload is much of an issue at this stage,” said Vaughan.

And with England not possessing many players temperamentally inclined to play for the draw.

Australia received a timely boost with fast bowler Glenn McGrath fit to play.

Australia had delayed naming their final XI as McGrath tested his fitness in the nets.

Ponting told reporters: “Glenn was asked to bowl two spells yesterday (Tuesday) and got through those really well.

“He almost plays as two bowlers in our team. He’s probably our main strike bowler up front with the new ball and at the same time you can call on him to bowl some tight overs later. He’s a vital player.”

However, Ponting said McGrath was sure of his fitness but added: “I wouldn’t take him at 60 or 70 percent fitness. He has to be right to bowl not just on Thursday morning but every morning of the match.”

McGrath, together with team-mate and leg-spin great Shane Warne, 36 next week, is just one of four men to have taken 500 Test wickets and to have him fully-fit would be a huge boost to Australia.

“We are a lot more confident than what we were a couple of days ago with him, that is for sure,” said Ponting, who indicated a preference for sticking with a four-man attack, which would rule out leg-spinner Stuart MacGill making his series debut at The Oval.

Although Australia have rallied well in the last three Tests a failure to impose themselves early in the game, with both bat and ball, has seen them having to play ‘catch-up’ cricket.

“Unfortunately through this summer we just haven’t got into a position early enough in games to put them under pressure for long periods,” Ponting said.

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