England fast bowler Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to begin on January 4, after scans confirmed a left hamstring injury.
Atkinson sustained the injury during England’s fourth Test victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The pacer was forced to leave the field on the second morning of the match after bowling five consecutive overs. He did not return to bowl or take the field for the remainder of the Test, raising immediate concerns over his availability for the series finale.
Following medical assessment and scan results, the England team management decided that Atkinson would not be fit in time for the Sydney Test. Despite the setback, England have opted not to name a replacement for the final match of the Ashes, choosing to proceed with the existing squad.
Atkinson’s injury further compounds England’s growing problems with their pace attack in the ongoing series. Earlier, Mark Wood was ruled out after the Brisbane Test due to a knee injury, while Jofra Archer suffered a left-side strain that ended his Ashes campaign following the Adelaide Test. With Atkinson now sidelined, England will head into the final Test with a significantly depleted fast-bowling unit.
The Sydney Test was expected to be an important opportunity for England to finish the series on a positive note, especially after their strong performance in Melbourne. However, the absence of another frontline pacer will force the team management to rely heavily on the remaining bowlers for workload management across five days.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has not provided a timeline for Atkinson’s recovery beyond confirming that he will miss the Sydney Test.
The fifth Test at the SCG will conclude the Ashes series.
