England pace bowler Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney with a hamstring injury, adding to the tourists’ mounting injury crisis. Atkinson suffered the injury during the second morning of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and scans on Monday confirmed the damage to his left leg.

Third pace bowler ruled out in a injury-hit series

Atkinson’s absence means England have now lost three frontline fast bowlers during the Ashes series. Star speedsters Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain) had already been ruled out earlier, leaving England’s pace attack severely depleted heading into the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which begins on January 4.

Matthew Potts, 27, is expected to come into the side to join Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue in the pace attack. Carse is now the only pacer remaining from the original quartet that took the field in Perth, where England believed they could tear through Australia’s batting with raw pace but instead lost the series inside 11 days.

Atkinson’s Ashes struggles

Atkinson played in England’s two heavy defeats in the opening Tests in Perth and Adelaide—both of which ended in eight-wicket losses—before being dropped for Josh Tongue for the third Test at Adelaide.

He was recalled to replace the injured Archer for the Boxing Day Test, which England won by four wickets to secure their first Test victory in Australia since 2011. However, his series return was modest, finishing with six wickets at an average of 47.33, well below his usual standards.

Bowling options for the SCG

With Atkinson ruled out, England’s bowling attack for Sydney will likely rely on the pace trio of Carse, Tongue, and Potts, along with captain Ben Stokes and all-rounder Will Jacks as additional seam-bowling options.

Specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, who is yet to play a match in the series, could also come into contention given the SCG traditionally offers some turn. However, England have favored an all-pace attack throughout the series, even on surfaces that might have suited spin.

Series already lost but pride at stake

With the series already conceded at 3-1 in Australia’s favor after three consecutive defeats, England will be playing for pride and a consolation victory in Sydney. Their Boxing Day win ended a 14-year drought for a Test victory on Australian soil and provided a much-needed morale boost after a torrid start to the tour.

However, the injury toll has taken a significant toll on England’s ability to field their strongest XI, and they will head into the final Test hoping to avoid further setbacks.