Jofra Archer included in England's T20 World Cup squad despite injury setback
Jofra Archer has been named in England's provisional squad for the 2026 T20I World Cup despite leaving the Ashes tour after suffering a side strain.
England fast bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of final Ashes Test in Sydney
Atkinson pulled up holding his hamstring during the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne and has subsequently been sent home.
He becomes England's third fast bowler to leave the tour through injury after Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain).
With only single Test remaining in the series, the tourists have opted against drafting in a replacement into the squad.
Atkinson played the first two Ashes Tests but struggled and was dropped for the game in Adelaide as England went 3-0 down to lose the series.
He came back into the XI at the MCG when Archer suffered his injury and took three wickets on a spicy pitch as the visitors won by four wickets.
Matthew Potts and Matthew Fisher are the other seamers with the squad who have not featured in the previous four Test matches.
Shoaib Bashir is also an option if England want another spinner to accompany Will Jacks, although that would be unlikely.
MCG Boxing Day pitch rated 'unsatisfactory' after two-day Ashes Test
The International Cricket Council has rated the pitch used for the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as "unsatisfactory", issuing the venue with one demerit point.
Ben Stokes happy to break Ashes drought but slams MCG pitch for Boxing Day Test
England captain Ben Stokes was happy that his team broke their Ashes drought in Australia but slammed the state of the pitch in Melbourne after the Boxing Day Test ended in two days.
England avoid Ashes whitewash as fourth Test ends inside two days
England ensured the Ashes would not end in a clean sweep by securing a four-wicket win over Australia after just two days in the fourth Test at Melbourne.