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Matthew Potts is poised to play his first Ashes Test in Sydney after England confirmed that Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the series finale.
Atkinson limped off with a hamstring issue on the second and final day of England’s rollercoaster four-wicket victory in Melbourne and scans undertaken in the past 24 hours have ruled out his further participation.
With Jofra Archer and Mark Wood having similarly seen their tours end early, it leaves Potts as the last unused seamer from the original squad of 16. Wood’s knee injury saw Surrey’s Matthew Fisher moved across from the shadow Lions tour after the second Test in Brisbane as cover.
Provided Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue recover sufficiently during the seven-day break between Tests – and England continue with Will Jacks as the spin option at No 8 – then the fast-medium Potts in for Atkinson may well be the only change from the XI that prevented the whitewash.
Jacks went unused with the ball at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – not a single over of spin was sent down by either side – but England like the depth he offers their batting, such that even another seamer-friendly pitch being served up in Sydney on 4 January is unlikely to see them change tack.
What transpires here remains to be seen. Last year’s Test between Australia and India was completed in three days, with 185 the highest total in the match and just one of the 34 wickets to fall was claimed by a spinner.
But plenty of caterwauling about England’s two-day heist in Melbourne – plus the second round of financial losses this incurred for Cricket Australia after a similarly quickfire series opener in Perth – means there is pressure on the Sydney Cricket Ground to ensure the fifth Test goes deeper.
“I think people in Sydney will be knowing full well the spotlight will be on them in a day or two, and I’m really hoping the SCG wicket performs well for us,” said Todd Greenberg, the CA chief executive.
“It’d be a good way to finish at the SCG with a really great Test match to finish what’s been an amazing series. I know there’s been some short Tests, but it’s been an incredible series, and it’ll be remembered for a long period of time for a variety of reasons.
“But I’m hopeful and confident Sydney will give us a good wicket.”
Were Potts to get the nod for England, it would be his 11th Test cap but a first for 12 months after playing against New Zealand in Hamilton last December. The 27-year-old has 36 wickets at 29 to date and made the cut after a shoulder injury forced Chris Woakes into retirement.
Atkinson leaves his first Ashes tour with six wickets at 47 runs apiece – figures that reflect a mixed campaign overall.
