England’s Ashes tour in Australia has taken another major blow with the news that Jofra Archer will miss the final two Tests due to a side strain. This setback follows a series of challenges, with the team already grappling with injuries and player form. Archer, who has been one of England’s standout performers in the series, will be replaced by Gus Atkinson for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. England’s squad changes are compounded by a difficult tour that has seen their hopes of success dwindle.
Jofra Archer’s Absence and England’s Response
Jofra Archer, who made his Test comeback in July after a four-year hiatus due to elbow and back injuries, had become an essential part of England’s attack during the Ashes. The pace bowler took nine wickets and provided key lower-order runs, earning praise from captain Ben Stokes for his “exceptional” efforts. Unfortunately, Archer suffered a side strain after his limited workload in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. After undergoing a scan in Melbourne, Archer will return to the UK next week for further assessment.
While this is a significant loss for England, they remain hopeful that Archer will be ready for the upcoming T20 World Cup in February. Gus Atkinson, a talented fast bowler, will join the squad to take Archer’s place for the Boxing Day Test. England also hopes that their young seamers—Matthew Potts and Matthew Fisher—will provide support to the attack, but with just 34 Test caps between their key bowlers, the squad looks inexperienced and thin on leadership.
Changes to England’s Batting Lineup and Player Shakeups
In addition to Archer’s injury, England has made a major change to their batting lineup. Ollie Pope, who has struggled in the series with just 125 runs across six innings, has been dropped for the second consecutive Ashes tour. Jacob Bethell will replace Pope at No. 3 for the Boxing Day Test. Bethell, who made his Test debut in New Zealand last year, is a regular in England’s white-ball team and brings a fresh approach to the middle order.
Bethell’s inclusion comes after Pope’s failure to score a half-century against Australia in 16 innings. Despite having captained England during the home series against India earlier in the year, Pope’s recent performances have not lived up to expectations. His inconsistency has been a major issue, especially given Bethell’s solid performances in other formats and his potential to make a strong impact in this key Test series.
Ben Duckett, despite his struggles at the start of the Ashes series and controversy surrounding a viral video, has kept his place in the team. Stokes expressed his complete support for Duckett, highlighting the challenges of international cricket and the need for consistency across the squad.
England’s XI for the 4th Ashes Test
With these changes in mind, here is the updated England lineup for the 4th Ashes Test against Australia:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Jacob Bethell
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (capt)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Will Jacks
- Gus Atkinson
- Brydon Carse
- Josh Tongue
Australia’s Squad Adjustments
In response to England’s changes, Australia is also expected to make alterations to their lineup. Pat Cummins, who has been recovering from back issues, and Nathan Lyon, sidelined with a torn hamstring, will both miss the Boxing Day Test. Steven Smith will return to captain the side after recovering from illness. These changes mean that Australia will enter the match with a slightly different look, though their depth and consistency remain a major challenge for England.
Conclusion:
As England faces yet another setback in their Ashes campaign, the focus will be on how the team adapts to the absence of key players like Archer and Pope. With significant changes to both the batting and bowling lineup, England will need to rally quickly to have any hope of turning the tide in the final two Tests. The Boxing Day Test at the MCG will be a pivotal moment for the team, as they aim to finish the series on a high despite the adversity they face.
