The Ashes: England bowler Jofra Archer ruled out of remainder of series due to injury as Gus Atkinson and Jacob Bethell begin Boxing Day Test | Cricket News

England’s Ashes tour has reached a new low as their player of the series, Jofra Archer, has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests due to injury.

Archer will play no part in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne or the New Year’s Eve clash in Sydney after being diagnosed with a left side strain, the latest in a long string of injuries for the seamer.

The 30-year-old has spent four years battling various fitness issues, including stress fractures in his back and right elbow, but has been superb since his long-awaited return against India over the summer.

In the third Test he took 5-53 in the first innings and scored 51 to emerge as a shining light in an increasingly horrendous tour but, after playing each of the first three Tests against Australia, he succumbed again.

He joined the team in training on Christmas Eve at the MCG, but played no part in training and a spokesperson later confirmed he was out for the remainder of the trip.

Gus Atkinson replaces Archer in the England team tasked with salvaging some pride at the MCG on Friday, while Ollie Pope ultimately lost his way to number three as Jacob Bethell gets the nod for what will comfortably be the biggest game of his career.

Pope has been under pressure for the past year, averaging 17 in 16 Ashes innings and losing the vice-captaincy just before heading to Australia. He now faces a return to county cricket and a long road back after 64 Tests.

England squad for fourth Ashes Test

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.

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