LONDON (Reuters)
England captain Nasser Hussain has said Alex Tudor's injury jinx needed to be solved after the pace bowler was ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test on the eve of the match.

The 23-year-old Tudor, brought back this season after a string of injuries over the last few years, performed well on his recall bytaking five for 44 in the first innings of the third Test, but bowled just four overs in the second innings of the fourth because of a problem with his hip.

England captain Nasser Hussain told a press conference on Wednesday: "Alex has to sort it out, it's as simple as that. We have physiotherapists and sociologists and mind people and they can work it out between them. Tudor is a fine prospect, we just have to get his body right. It's not easy for a young lad."

Tudor has played just five Tests since his debut in 1998. His omission reduced the England squad to 13, with the team due to be announced on the morning of the game. Australia, leading 3-1, have already secured the five-match series.

Hussain said he expected to go into the Oval Test with only one spinner. "That's my gut feeling," he said. "The wicket looks like a good Oval Test wicket, it's pretty dry."

Offspinner Robert Croft and left-armer Phil Tufnell - recalled to the squad after 18 months - will vie for that place, while Richard Johnson and Jimmy Ormond, both uncapped, are the contenders for third seamer's spot.

England squad:

Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Ramprakash, Usman Afzaal, Alec Stewart, Robert Croft, Darren Gough, Andy Caddick, Phil Tufnell, Jimmy Ormond, Richard Johnson.

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