The 30-year-old Jofra Archer endured four years of recurring fitness setbacks, including stress fractures to his back and right elbow, but has returned in impressive form since making his long-awaited red-ball comeback against India.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the Ashes due to a left-side strain, a team official said on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old has endured four injury-hit years marked by repeated fitness setbacks, including stress fractures of the back and right elbow. However, he had been in strong form since making his long-awaited return to red-ball cricket against India.
The fourth Test begins on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the fifth scheduled to start on January 4 in Sydney. Australia hold an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series and have already retained the Ashes.
Archer joined the squad at training at the MCG on Wednesday but did not take part in practice. A team spokesperson later confirmed that he would play no further part in the tour.
Across the three tests at Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, Archer bowled 80 overs, taking nine wickets at an average of 27.11 and registering England’s best strike rate among the bowlers. His standout performance came in the third Test at Adelaide, where he claimed figures of five for 53 in the first innings and also scored 51 runs.
England named Gus Atkinson as Archer’s replacement in the XI for the Melbourne Test, while Jacob Bethell comes in for Ollie Pope at No. 3. Pope has averaged 20.83 with the bat in the series.
Meanwhile, Ben Duckett retained his place in the side despite averaging 16 in the series and being the subject of a team investigation following the emergence of footage this week that allegedly showed him intoxicated between the second and third tests.
