FACTBOX - England v Australia fifth Test

London: England need to beat Australia in the fifth and final Test at the Oval starting on Thursday (1000GMT) to regain the Ashes. The series is tied 1-1.

VENUE

The Oval, traditional venue for the last Test of the English summer, should again provide an excellent batting pitch offering consistent bounce and assistance for the quicker bowlers at the start and the possibility of spin at the end. England have won five of the last 10 Tests there, losing twice and drawing three times.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Test cricket`s oldest rivals have played 64 Ashes series. Australia have won 31, England 28 and five have been drawn.

KEY PLAYERS

England: Fast bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is playing his final Test after announcing before the second Test at Lord`s that he would concentrate on one-day cricket following a series of injuries.

Flintoff took five wickets in the second innings at Lord`s to inspire England to their first Ashes victory at the home of cricket since 1934. He missed the fourth-Test defeat because the selectors felt his right knee, which required an operation this year, would not stand the strain of a five-day match.

Australia: Mitchell Johnson, spearhead of the pace attack, could find neither rhythm, pace or accuracy in the first two Tests. His form improved in the third Test at Edgbaston and he took five for 69 in England`s second innings in the fourth Test at Headingley where Australia completed a crushing innings and 80 runs victory.

Favourable conditions at the Oval would provide the left-armer with the perfect opportunity to sign off in style on his first Ashes tour.

WEATHER FORECAST

Generally fine and warm with showers predicted on Thursday.

Teams (from):

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Stephen Harmison, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar.

Australia: Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Stuart Clark, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Asad Rauf (Pakistan)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

Bureau Report