Tudor out of Ashes finale

England fast bowler Alex Tudor was today ruled out of the Fifth and final Ashes Test with Australia, starting at The Oval tomorrow.

The injury-plagued Surrey paceman is now suffering a hip problem and may struggle to convince the selectors that he can stand up to the rigours of touring New Zealand and India this winter.

Captain Nasser Hussain voiced the frustration of the England camp when he said: "Alex has to sort it out, it's as simple as that. He has had his fair share of injuries but he is also a fine prospect so we can't just wash our hands of him.

"We have physiotherapists and sociologists and mind people and they can work it out between them."

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 tomorrow morning.

Hussain, meanwhile, today said he believes Australia should be allowed to take the original Ashes home with them next week - provided they promise to look after cricket's most famous prize.

"They have played such fine cricket over the last 20 years they should take the urn home, if that can be done without any fear of losing a very special piece of history," he said. "If it got lost, or broken, or damaged it would be a travesty."

However, the Ashes seem certain to remain in the MCC museum at Lord's.