England will be without Gus Atkinson for the final Ashes Test in Sydney after the fast bowler picked up a left hamstring injury during the Melbourne Test.
The setback occurred on day two of the fourth Test. Atkinson was delivering the last ball of his fifth over in Australia’s second innings when he suddenly stopped. He walked off the field straight away. Medical scans later confirmed the injury and ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.
The 26-year-old becomes the third England pacer to be lost during the series. Mark Wood was earlier sidelined with a knee issue. Jofra Archer also failed to complete the tour after suffering a side strain. England’s pace attack has therefore been under constant strain throughout the Ashes.
Despite the injury concerns, England has decided against calling up a replacement. With only one Test left, the team believes the current squad offers enough cover. The final match begins in Sydney on January 4.
Matthew Potts remains available and is yet to feature in the series. Matthew Fisher is also in contention after being elevated from the England Lions group following Wood’s withdrawal earlier in the tour.
Team management may also review their spin options. Shoaib Bashir is part of the squad and could support Will Jacks if conditions demand it. The Sydney surface is expected to be flatter, which may bring spin into consideration, though no change is certain.
Atkinson arrived in Australia as England’s main pace threat. However, his tour never fully took off. He failed to take a wicket in Perth. In Brisbane, he collected three wickets but leaked heavy runs. That performance led to his omission in Adelaide.
He returned to the side after Archer’s injury and showed improvement. The conditions suited him better, and he added three more wickets.
Atkinson ends the series with six wickets at an average of 47.33. It is his most expensive return in Test cricket since his debut during the 2024 home season.
