England drop Pope and omit injured Archer for Boxing Day

Ben Duckett is under intensifying pressure for his output of 97 runs and his alleged Noosa antics.
Ben Duckett is under intensifying pressure for his output of 97 runs and his alleged Noosa antics.WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series with a left side strain, whilst England have finally ran out of patience with their out-of-form number three.

Gus Atkinson will make his return to the England side after being rested in Adelaide and he comes back with the worst bowling average of the team, collecting just three wickets from his 54 overs in Perth and Brisbane at 78.67 runs apiece. 

Number three Ollie Pope has been dropped following a return of 125 runs at an average of just 20.83, without a single half-century to his name in the series. 

Bethell's only Test appearance of 2025 came at The Oval in London, where he scored single digits (6 & 5) in each innings following three half-centuries in the 2024/25 tour of New Zealand.

Archer bows out with six series wickets to his name at an average of 27.11.

England 4th Test XI:

1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (c), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Josh Tongue