Matthew Potts is poised to make his Ashes debut in the fifth Test at Sydney after Gus Atkinson was ruled out because of the left hamstring he injured during England’s four-wicket win at Melbourne.
Atkinson left the field on the second and final day after sending down the last ball of his fifth over, ending a mixed first visit to Australia in which his figures – six wickets at 47 – did not always reflect the tightness of his new-ball spells.
England will not replace him in the squad, having already drafted in Matthew Fisher after Mark Wood’s tour was ended by a knee injury sustained during the first Test at Perth.
Assuming Potts keeps Fisher at bay, he will win his 11th cap, but his first for over a year.
His 36 Test wickets have cost 29 each, and he has built a reputation as a workhorse, conceding a little more than three an over. Against New Zealand at Headingley in 2022, he had first-innings figures of 26–11–34–1.
Pictured: Gus Atkinson grimaces after injuring his left hamstring during England’s Boxing Day Test victory
The injury has put an end to Atkinson’s series, with Matthew Potts poised to step in for the final Test at the SCG from Sunday
Atkinson is the third England quick whose tour has been ended prematurely by injury, following Wood and Jofra Archer.
Australia, meanwhile, managed to squeeze only one Test out of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood combined.
The fifth Test starts at the SCG on Sunday, with England hoping to close the gap to 3–2.
