England’s injury problems in the Ashes 2025-26 series have gotten worse, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Scans revealed that the Surrey pacer suffered a left hamstring injury, forcing him to miss the series finale.
Atkinson sustained the injury during the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which England won after a 14-year absence from an overseas Ashes Test victory. The 27-year-old looked to hurt his hamstring early on day two when delivering the final delivery of his fifth consecutive over in Australia’s second innings.
He instantly off the field and did not return for the rest of the game. The visitors later announced that he was sent for scans, ruling him out of the Sydney Test on January 4. Atkinson is the third England fast bowler to be sidelined on the tour, following Mark Wood (knee injury) and Jofra Archer (side strain after the Adelaide Test).
Despite Atkinson’s dismissal in Melbourne, England bowled Australia out for 132 before chasing a goal of 175 and winning by four wickets. However, his absence creates a selection headache for the final Test, particularly with the Three Lions down 3-1 in the five-match series.
Gus 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.
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