Heading into the fourth Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting on the Boxing Day Test, England have suffered a massive setback as their premier pacer, Jofra Archer, has been ruled out of the final Tests with a side strain. He took six wickets in Australia’s 82-run win in Adelaide.

Jofra Archer will be replaced by Gus Atkinson for the MCG contest, with Jacob Bethell coming in for Ollie Pope at number three in England’s other change. Archer made his red-ball comeback in July after more than four years away from the format due to elbow and back injuries. Besides his nine wickets, he has also contributed vital lower-order runs.

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Archer was sent for a scan on December 23 after a limited workload in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. He will return to the UK and will get assessed next week. At this stage, he seems to be available for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

England make two changes for 4th Ashes 2025/26 Test

Atkinson returns to the side after missing the Adelaide Test and is now set to share the new ball with Brydon Carse as Shoaib Bashir continues to warm the benches despite Stokes calling him the number one spinner of the national side. Will Jacks keeps his place at number eight as a spin-bowling all-rounder, with Josh Tongue retaining his place after five wickets in Adelaide.

Pope, who is yet to score a fifty against Australia across 16 innings, has been dropped, having managed only 125 runs in six innings at an average of 20.83 in this series. Jacob Bethell will feature in his fifth Test on Boxing Day.

Ben Duckett, meanwhile, retained his place despite his failure to reach 30 in the first innings of the Ashes series. ECB has already started an investigation into his drunk video that has gone viral on social media platforms.

England’s playing XI for 4th Ashes 2025/26 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