England tell beaten players to get match practice

England has released five players from the side routed by Australia in the fourth Ashes Test to let them get match practice with their county sides. The England and Wales Cricket Board said that Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Alastair Cook, Graham Onions and Graeme Swann would be allowed to play in the county championship.

"Following discussions with the England team management, it has been decided to make a number of players available to their counties for four-day cricket this week," ECB managing director Hugh Morris said. "We are aware that we underperformed with bat and ball at Headingley and this decision is designed to give players an opportunity to spend time in the middle and get overs under their belt.

"Australia won by an innings and 80 runs inside three days to draw level at 1-1 ahead of the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting August 20.

No. 3 Bopara would appear most at threat for the fifth Test, having scored a total of 105 runs in seven innings at an average of just 15.

Commentators have speculated that 39-year-old Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash, who has been in top form the past three years and averages more than 100 in the county championship this season, could be recalled more than seven years after his 52nd and last Test.

Ramprakash averages 42.40 in Ashes Tests, compared to just 27.32 in Tests overall.