Jofra Archer ruled out of rest of Ashes with side strain as Jacob Bethell replaces Ollie Pope for Melbourne Test
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By Ben Grounds
Updated 24/12/2025 at 09:19 GMT
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Jofra Archer's Ashes campaign is over after a side strain ruled him out of the remainder of the 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men's series, drawing a premature end to what had been England's most spirited individual contribution in a contest already lost. Ollie Pope is dropped for the fourth Test, with Jacob Bethell coming in. Live coverage of the Melbourne Test is on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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England fast bowler Jofra Archer will play no further part in the 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes, while Ollie Pope has been replaced by Jake Bethell for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
A left side strain has ruled out Archer, whose valiant efforts both with the bat and ball failed to prevent a series defeat within just 11 days of cricket.
The 30-year-old seamer will sit out the traditional Melbourne meeting - with coverage starting at 10.30pm UK time on Christmas Day and play getting underway at 11.30pm - and will also be absent for the final Test in Sydney in the new year as Australia eye a 5-0 whitewash.
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It marks more frustration for Archer, who has impressed since returning to the format following a spate of long injury lay-offs, which led to a four-year absence from Test cricket.
His maiden Test half-century at Adelaide Oval demonstrated that it is not just with the red ball in hand that he can make a difference to this ailing England side.
His first five-wicket haul in the format for six years served as a powerful reminder of what England have been missing for so long.
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Jofra Archer has impressed for England during this Ashes series - but will miss the Melbourne and Sydney Tests
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Across the Tests in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Archer's workload was modest - just 80 overs - but his impact was anything but.
He finished with nine wickets at an average of 27.11, while still boasting the sharpest strike rate of anyone in England's touring attack, a reminder of the potency he brings whenever he is able to take the field.
His comeback against India at Lord’s five months ago was a milestone, yet after just five Tests another injury has forced him from the field. Limited to 12.4 overs in Australia’s second innings in Adelaide, scans in Melbourne later revealed a side injury that has brought his tour to a premature end.
Given the series has already been lost, it might also be viewed as a precaution being taken by head coach Brendon McCullum and his camp, with Archer expected to take up a central role at the T20 World Cup at the start of February in India and Sri Lanka - provided further scans on his return to England don't reveal any further complications.
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Archer's place in the XI is taken by Gus Atkinson, while Pope's prolonged struggle for form has finally brought change, with Bethell drafted in as England search for fresh momentum.
Captain Ben Stokes was unequivocal in his praise of Archer, who will return to the United Kingdom after the fourth Test.
"The effort that he’s put in over these three games has been exceptional," said Stokes.
"There were a lot of question marks around his ability or whatever it may be coming out to Australia, and he's put in a great effort for the team."
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Pope for Bethell marks the latest turn in England's long-running uncertainty over the No. 3 position.
The Surrey batsman's struggles have been hard to ignore - a highest score of 46 in six innings this Ashes, no half-century in eight Tests against Australia, and an average of just 24.38 across his past seven matches since a century against India in July.
It is therefore something of a surprise that this is the first time he has been omitted since the 2022 tour of West Indies, but a sobering moment for a player whose overall Test average of 34.55 now feels increasingly misleading.
Pressure on Pope has been building since Bethell's eye-catching debut in New Zealand last year, where the left-hander struck three half-centuries in as many Tests.
His 2025 has been stop-start, limited to just three first-class matches, including a modest return in the fifth Test against India at The Oval. A recent 71 for England Lions against Australia A in Brisbane, however, has kept faith in his potential alive.
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Speculation intensified when Pope was replaced as vice-captain by Harry Brook ahead of the series, and now he becomes the clearest selection casualty of England's failed Ashes campaign.
Meanwhile, Australia will be without Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the Boxing Day Test. Cummins has been rested for the final two matches after accelerating his return from a back injury to feature in the series-clinching victory in Adelaide. With the urn already secured, Australia have handed their captain time to recover rather than risk further damage.
Lyon's absence is more definitive as their veteran spinner underwent surgery on the hamstring injury he sustained in Adelaide on Tuesday, and there is currently no timetable for his return.
Steve Smith, who missed the third Test through illness, will again assume the captaincy, while Todd Murphy is drafted in to replace Lyon.
England XI for fourth Ashes Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.
Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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