England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after suffering a left side strain, England team management confirmed while announcing the squad for the Boxing Day Test.
Archer sustained the injury during the third Test in Adelaide, and subsequent medical assessments determined that he would be unable to recover in time for the remainder of the series. As a result, England have taken a precautionary approach and withdrawn him from the tour altogether to avoid aggravating the issue.
The decision comes amid Archer’s long history of injury setbacks, particularly stress fractures and recurring soft-tissue problems that have limited his availability over recent seasons. England have been cautious with his workload, especially during demanding overseas tours such as the Ashes, where fast bowlers face heavy physical strain.
England’s team director Rob Key has previously stressed the importance of managing Archer carefully to ensure his long-term fitness across formats, rather than risking a more serious injury by rushing him back into action.
With Archer unavailable, Gus Atkinson has returned to the playing XI for the fourth Test, joining Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue in England’s pace attack.
Archer’s absence is a significant blow for England, given his ability to generate high pace and extract bounce on Australian pitches, but the team has opted to prioritise player welfare ahead of the crucial Boxing Day clash.
