England have been dealt another major blow ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test after pace spearhead Gus Atkinson was ruled out of the Sydney clash with a hamstring injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday that scans revealed Atkinson had sustained a left hamstring injury, forcing him out for the remainder of the Ashes tour. The Surrey fast bowler picked up the injury during the fourth Test in Melbourne, where he hobbled off early on day two while clutching his left leg and was unable to take any further part in the match.
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“With one Test remaining in Sydney, England has decided not to bring in a replacement player,” the ECB said in a statement. The fifth Test is scheduled to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
JUST IN: Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney with a left hamstring injury pic.twitter.com/32BlQP4OkY
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 29, 2025
Atkinson’s absence further depletes an already stretched England pace attack. He becomes the third frontline quick to be sidelined during the series, following Mark Wood, who was ruled out with a knee problem, and Jofra Archer, who is nursing a side strain. The mounting injuries have forced England to rely heavily on a limited pool of fast-bowling options.
With no replacement added to the squad, the door is now open for either Matthew Potts or Matthew Fisher to make their first appearance of the series. Both bowlers are part of the touring party but are yet to feature in any of the Tests. Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and captain Ben Stokes are expected to shoulder the bulk of the pace-bowling responsibilities in Sydney.
England head into the final Test trailing 3-1 in the five-match series. They suffered heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane by eight wickets, followed by an 82-run loss in Adelaide. However, they managed to restore some pride with a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the fourth Test in Melbourne.
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The Sydney Test now represents England’s last chance to finish the tour on a positive note despite their mounting injury concerns.