Atkinson’s hamstring rules him out and opens the door for Potts
Matthew Potts is in line to play in Sydney after England confirmed Gus Atkinson will miss the fifth Ashes Test. Atkinson picked up a hamstring problem during England’s four wicket win in Melbourne, and scans in the past 24 hours have ended his tour.
With Jofra Archer and Mark Wood also finishing early through injury, Potts is now the only seamer from England’s original 16 man group yet to be used. Mark Wood’s knee issue had already prompted England to bring in Surrey pacer Matthew Fisher from the shadow Lions trip as cover after the second Test in Brisbane.
If Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue come through the seven day gap between matches, and England keep Will Jacks as the spin option at number eight, Potts for Atkinson looks set to be the only change to the XI that avoided a whitewash.
Pitch focus in Sydney as Cricket Australia seek a longer Test
England did not bowl a single over of spin at the MCG, and neither did Australia, but the tourists still value what Jacks adds with the bat. Even if Sydney offers help for seamers on January 4, England are expected to stick with the same balance rather than reshuffle the attack.
There is also added scrutiny on the SCG surface. Last year’s Australia v India Test in Sydney finished inside three days, with 185 the highest total and only one of 34 wickets taken by a spinner. After criticism of the short Melbourne Test and the financial hit Cricket Australia took, there is pressure for the final match to run deeper into the schedule.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the focus is on producing a good wicket and hoped Sydney would provide a strong finish to a series he believes will be remembered for a long time, despite several quick matches.
If Potts is selected, it would be his 11th Test and his first appearance in a year, after playing New Zealand in Hamilton last December. The 27 year old has 36 Test wickets at 29 and returned to the picture after Chris Woakes retired because of a shoulder injury. Atkinson ends his first Ashes trip with six wickets at 47 each, numbers that reflect a mixed series.
