 Again England made multiple changes to the side from the previous Test.This time, Smith, Emburey, Bicknell and Illot felt the chop from the selectors' axe, while Graham Thorpe had to be left out after a delivery from a 17-year-old net bowler broke his thumb, leading to coach Fletcher reporting the nets at The Oval as sub-standard.In their places came the pace trio of Devon Malcolm, Angus Fraser and Steve Watkin, all making their first appearances of the series, and batsmen Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash.