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Setback for England as injury in MCG Test risks Gus Atkinson's Ashes campaign

Debashis Sarangi

Gus Atkinson holding his left hamstring [Source: @englandcricket/X]Gus Atkinson holding his left hamstring [Source: @englandcricket/X]

In an unfortunate incident, England's key pacer Gus Atkinson suffered a hamstring injury on day 2 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia in the Ashes 2025-26. Gus Atkinson could deliver only five overs during Australia's second innings before a hamstring injury forced him to walk off the field. 

Gus Atkinson walks off the field midway in MCG Test due to injury

Gus Atkinson has been a vital cog in England's Test setup since making his debut in July last year. The right-arm speedster was impressive in the first innings of the MCG Test, as England reduced Australia to a paltry 152-run total. Atkinson made the most of the seam-friendly conditions of the MCG pitch, scalping the crucial wickets of Travis Head and Usman Khawaja and conceding only 28 runs in his fourteen-over spell. 

However, the England seamer couldn't replicate a similar level of success in the second innings, with a hamstring injury abruptly cutting short his participation. Gus Atkinson experienced soreness in his left hamstring soon after bowling his fifth over, eventually going off the field on the second day of the Boxing Day Test. 

"Gus Atkinson left the field after bowling his fifth over this morning, having felt some soreness in his left hamstring. He'll be assessed over the next few hours. Wishing you the best, Gus," the ECB said in its statement. 

Atkinson joins long list of injured England pacers amid Ashes

Veteran fast bowler Mark Wood was the first England bowler to get ruled out of the Ashes 2025-26 due to a knee injury. 

Wood's long-time bowling partner Jofra Archer followed his footsteps, getting sidelined from the high-voltage series after featuring in the first three Tests. Now with doubts looming over Atkinson's availability, England's concerns regarding their pace bowling stocks have definitely been aggravated ahead of the final Test in Sydney. 

Who could replace Atkinson if he misses SCG Test?

As the ECB revealed, the final call on Gus Atkinson's participation in the final Ashes Test at the SCG will be taken after assessing his injury. If he misses out on selection, Matthew Fisher or Matthew Potts might join Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and captain Ben Stokes to spearhead England's fast bowling department in the dead-rubber.