England’s injury troubles in the Ashes 2025-26 series have worsened with fast bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of the fifth and final Test against Australia
at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Scans confirmed that the Surrey pacer has sustained a left hamstring injury, forcing him to miss the series finale.
Atkinson picked up the injury during the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which England won after a 14-year wait for an overseas Ashes Test victory. The 27-year-old appeared to strain his hamstring early on the second day while bowling the final delivery of his fifth consecutive over in Australia’s second innings.
He immediately left the field and did not return for the remainder of the match. The visitors later confirmed that he was sent for scans, which ruled him out of the Sydney Test starting January 4. Atkinson becomes the third England fast bowler to be sidelined during the tour, following Mark Wood, who was ruled out with a knee injury, and Jofra Archer, who suffered a side strain after the Adelaide Test.
Despite Atkinson’s exit in Melbourne, England managed to bowl Australia out for just 132 before chasing down a target of 175 to register a four-wicket win. However, his absence now places a selection challenge ahead of the final Test, especially with the Three Lions trailing 3-1 in the five-match series.
Atkinson finishes series with six wickets
England have opted not to call up a replacement for Atkinson. Instead, the team management will choose from the existing squad, with Durham seamer Matthew Potts yet to feature in the series and Surrey’s Matthew Fisher also available after being promoted from the England Lions group earlier in the tour. Shoaib Bashir remains another option if the team considers playing an additional spinner alongside Will Jacks.
Meanwhile, Atkinson arrived in Australia as England’s attack leader but struggled to make an impact, going wicketless in Perth and conceding heavily in Brisbane. He was subsequently dropped for the must-win Adelaide Test before returning to the XI at the MCG due to Archer’s injury.
He claimed three wickets and finished the series with six wickets at an average of 47.33, his least effective return since making his Test debut in early 2024. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the development, clarifying that this injury is unrelated to the right hamstring issue that kept Atkinson out of much of last summer.
