England have been dealt another injury setback ahead of the final Test of the Ashes, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of the contest, starting January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 27-year-old sustained a left hamstring injury while bowling on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Atkinson left the field after completing his fifth over of Australia’s second innings and did not return, even as England went on to seal a four-wicket victory that reduced the series deficit.
Subsequent scans confirmed the extent of the injury, forcing Atkinson out of the remainder of the tour. Australia currently lead the five-match Ashes series 3-1 heading into the final ICC World Test Championship fixture.
“England Men’s seamer Gus Atkinson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes tour after scans confirmed he has sustained a left hamstring injury,” England said in an official statement.
“The Surrey right-armer left the field after bowling his fifth over of Australia’s second innings during England’s victory at the MCG in the fourth Test. England will not call up a replacement for the fifth Test, which gets under way in Sydney on January 4,” the statement added.
Atkinson’s absence further depletes England’s pace resources on a tour already hit hard by injuries. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have both been sidelined earlier in the series, leaving England to reshuffle their fast-bowling options once again.
With no replacement being added to the squad, Matthew Fisher and Matthew Potts are among the quicks in contention to step in for the series finale in Sydney, as England look to finish the Ashes on a positive note.
England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue.