Peter Siddle has earned a Test recall for the Ashes finale, while Australia will bat first at The Oval.

Alastair Cook won the toss and opted to bowl as England seek to win the five-Test series 4-1.

Outgoing Australia skipper Michael Clarke indicated pre-match that the game will only last two or three days due to the green pitch.

“I was obviously going to bowl first as well,” Clarke said at the toss.

“You have to bat and bowl don’t you, that’s the way the game goes.

“Hopefully we come out and play well.”

Clarke will bat at No.4 in his 115th and final Test.

National selectors, concerned about the state of the strip and incredibly dark skies, opted for Siddle’s experience over young speedster Pat Cummins.

Australia made two changes to the XI that was thumped at Trent Bridge, with Siddle and Mitch Marsh coming in at the expense of Josh Hazlewood and Shaun Marsh.

England named an unchanged side.

“We do know The Oval is a good wicket in general, so we have to make sure we get it right from ball one,” Cook said.

Cummins was expected to be called up after Hazlewood was ruled out due to a shin niggle.

Siddle bowled in the nets on Wednesday, while his fellow pacemen had their feet up.

The Victorian had limped off with a niggle during the squad’s last-start tour game in Northampton, where he failed to take a wicket.

England boast an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-Test series, having recorded crushing wins in Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham.

Clarke’s men have been embarrassed but they risk further ignominy.

England have never recorded more than three Test wins in a home series against Australia.

Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke (capt), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Steve Finn.