England pace bowler Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney after scans confirmed a hamstring injury in his left leg. The 27-year-old pulled up lame during the second morning of the Boxing Day Test, forcing England to make last-minute adjustments to their bowling attack.

Atkinson’s absence adds to England’s growing injury list, which already includes Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain). With Atkinson ruled out, Matthew Potts is expected to join Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue in the pace attack for the Jan. 4 Test. Carse remains the only pacer from the original four who started the series in Perth.

Atkinson featured in England’s heavy defeats in the first two Tests in Perth and Adelaide before being dropped for the third Test. He was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after Archer’s injury and contributed six wickets at an average of 47.33 in the series, helping England secure their first win in Australia since 2011.

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Captain Ben Stokes, along with spin-bowling allrounder Will Jacks, remains available to support England’s attack, while specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has yet to play a match in the series, could also be called upon. The team will now rely on these remaining options to challenge a strong Australian batting lineup.

England’s injury woes have put pressure on Stokes and the team management to finalize a balanced XI that can compete in the series-deciding Test. With Potts’ inclusion, England aims to maintain pace depth and secure a strong finish in Sydney despite mounting setbacks.

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