Woakes out, Crane to make Test debut for England, says Root

SeamerChris Woakes has been ruled out with a side strain opening the way foryoung leg-spinner Mason Crane to make his debut for England in today’sfinal Ashes Test against Australia. England skipper Joe Root confirmed 20-year-old Crane will play following the injury set-back to Woakes.Woakeshad scans on his injured left side yesterday and was ruled out of theSydney Test as the tourists seek to win their first Test win of theseries. The Warwickshire paceman missed a significant part ofEngland’s home season after straining his side during last year’sChampions Trophy and pulled up sore after last week’s fourth MelbourneTest.Woakes has taken 10 wickets at 49.5 in the four Tests andscored just 114 runs through seven innings batting number eight at anaverage of 16.28. But he is a key member of England’s limited overssides — and with both a one-day international series and a Twenty20tri-series to follow over the next month, England are not prepared torisk him.“More than anything it’s making sure he’s not out for asignificant period of time like he was throughout the summer,” Root toldreporters. “It gives him another week to get himself right andhopefully that’s the case and he’s fit and ready to go when those gamescome around.”Crane, who has made two Twenty20 appearances, comesinto the Test having taken five wickets for New South Wales at the SCGlast year while playing Sydney club cricket. “The way he went aboutthose Twenty20s shows he is right up for international cricket and he’snot someone that is going to back down from any challenge,” Root said.“He’s performed very well when he’s had his opportunities on this trip.”Englandcoach Trevor Bayliss this week indicated Crane was in line to debutwhen he told reporters: “There’s maybe no time like the present to findout. We think he’s a guy that has got the goods, and the more he playsat this level the better he will get. You’ve got to start somewhere.”Theinjury to Woakes is likely to give the out-of-sorts Moeen Ali anotherchance. Moeen has played 48 Tests and came to Australia as anaccomplished all-rounder but he has under-performed, taking only threewickets and averaging 19 with the bat.