England’s injury troubles on the Ashes tour have deepened, with pace bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney due to a left hamstring injury.
Atkinson Injury Adds to England’s Fast-Bowling Woes
Atkinson sustained the injury during the fourth Test at the MCG, appearing to pull up while delivering the final ball of his fifth over in Australia’s second innings. He left the field immediately and underwent scans later on Saturday. The 26-year-old did not return to the match and was not required to bat.
Despite his absence, England managed the situation well, bowling Australia out for 132 and successfully chasing 175 with four wickets in hand. The win marked England’s first overseas Ashes Test victory since January 2011.
Atkinson becomes the third England fast bowler to leave the tour injured, following Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain). With the fifth Test beginning on January 4 at the SCG, England have decided not to call up a direct replacement.
England’s Options for the Final Test in Sydney
England still have depth within the squad. Durham seamer Matthew Potts is yet to feature in the series, while Surrey’s Matthew Fisher is also available after being promoted from the England Lions squad when Wood returned home earlier in the tour.
There is also a slim possibility England could strengthen their spin options. Shoaib Bashir could come into consideration to support Will Jacks, especially if the SCG pitch plays flatter than expected. That said, a spin-heavy approach remains unlikely.
On a positive note for Atkinson, this injury is not related to the right hamstring issue he suffered last summer during England’s Test against Zimbabwe. That earlier setback forced him to miss the first four matches against India, though he returned strongly at The Oval with eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul, and nearly helped England secure a dramatic victory.
Atkinson arrived in Australia as England’s attack leader, but his tour proved challenging. He went wicketless in Perth and claimed 3 for 151 in Brisbane before being dropped for the crucial Adelaide Test. Archer’s injury opened the door for his return at the MCG, where he picked up three wickets on a lively surface.
He leaves the Ashes tour with six wickets at an average of 47.33, the first time his series average has exceeded 28 since making his Test debut at the start of the 2024 summer.
