Ashes 2025-26: Gus Atkinson leaves field with hamstring pain to give England another injury scare

England suffered another injury scare of their tour with right-arm fast bowler Gus Atkinson leaving the field with hamstring soreness early on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test on Saturday, December 27.

Before he suffered the issue, Atkinson had given a fillip to England with a wicket of nightwatchman Scott Boland. The dismissal set the day up for the English bowlers who ran through the Australian batting line-up.

Atkinson, however, was not part of the rest of the day's play after he bowled the last ball of his fifth over. The 27-year-old suffered the hamstring pain while running in to bowl the aforementioned delivery which was bowled at a lowly pace of 98 kmph/61 mph. The Surrey bowler held his hamstring in his follow through before making his way to the pavilion.

"England seamer Gus Atkinson left the field after bowling his fifth over of the innings, having felt some soreness in his left hamstring, shortly after the injury. He will be assessed over the next few hours," a team personnel said.

England win the Boxing Day Test

Atkinson finished with figures of 5-1-20-1. England, however, did not seem to miss him as Josh Tongue, Ben Stokes, and Brydon Carse troubled the Australian batters later. It was an inspired performance from the England bowlers who did not allow the Australian batters to settle down and dominate. No sizeable partnership formed as England ran through the solid Australian batting line-up.

Also Read: First in 5468 days: England bowlers set up dramatic Boxing Day Test win to end prolonged Ashes drought

A target of 175 was going to be a tricky one given how the Australian bowlers performed in the first innings. However, it was not to be the case as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provided a quick start. Bethell and Crawley stabilised the innings and narrowed down the distance from the target. The Australians picked up wickets at regular intervals but it was not enough as the visitors won the Melbourne Test by four wickets.

The caravan now moves to Sydney for the fifth and final Test beginning from January 4, 2026. The series scoreline stands at 3-1.