Ashes 2025-26: Archer ruled out for remainder of series with side injury; Pope dropped for Boxing Day Test as England announce XI

England pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with a side strain, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on December 24 while announcing the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, which commences on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Gus Atkinson has been included in the team as Archer’s replacement, while Jacob Bethell has been added in place of Ollie Pope, who has been dropped for the second consecutive Ashes tour.

Archer, who bagged six wickets in Adelaide in England’s 82-run defeat, returned to the Test team in July after spending over four years on the sidelines due to recurring elbow and back injuries. His contribution in the current series has not been limited to the ball, as he has chipped in with invaluable runs in the lower order.

Archer underwent a scan in Melbourne on Tuesday after being sparingly used in the second innings in Adelaide to manage his workload. He is set to fly to the UK next week for further assessment, with England confident of his availability in next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

As for Pope, who averages below 18 in 16 innings in Australia, he has vacated the No. 3 spot for Bethell. Pope led England towards the end of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy earlier in the year in Stokes' absence, but was removed as vice-captain before the Ashes. Pope’s replacement, Bethell, made his Test debut against New Zealand last December and has played four games so far, scoring three half-centuries at No. 3 in his debut series to put significant pressure on Pope’s position.

Atkinson, meanwhile, will pair up with Brydon Carse to fulfil England’s new-ball duties. Spin all-rounder Will Jacks has retained his spot at No. 8 while Shoaib Bashir continues to be ignored. Pacer Josh Tongue, who scalped five wickets in Adelaide, has been included, while Ben Duckett has also been retained.

Australia are also set to ring in multiple changes, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon out with injuries.

England XI for fourth Ashes Test

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