England bowler Jofra Archer will not play in the remaining two Ashes tests due to a left side strain, a team official said Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Archer spent four years battling a variety of fitness issues, including stress fractures of the back and right elbow, but has been in strong form since making a long-awaited red-ball return against India.

The fourth test begins Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the fifth on Jan. 4 in Sydney. Australia has a winning 3-0 lead in the five-test series and has retained the Ashes.

Archer joined the squad at training on Wednesday at the MCG, but played no part in practice and a spokesperson later confirmed he was out for the remainder of the tour.

He had bowled a total of 80 overs in the games at Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, taking nine wickets at 27.11 and maintaining the lowest strike-rate among England bowlers.

In the third test at Adelaide, he took five for 53 in the first innings and scored 51 runs.

Gus Atkinson replaced Archer in the visitors’ XI named Wednesday while Jacob Bethell has replaced No. 3 Ollie Pope for the Melbourne test. Pope is averaging 20.83 with the bat for the series.

But Ben Duckett, the subject of a team investigation after footage purportedly showing the 31-year-old intoxicated between the second and third tests emerged this week, has held his spot despite averaging 16 for the series.

England team

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.

England fast bowler Mark Wood missed a training session on Saturday (November 29, 2025), raising doubts about his availability for the second Ashes test due to concerns over his troublesome left knee.

The 35-year-old Wood’s fitness had been an issue going into the five-match series after he only recently returned following knee surgery in March. That was the eighth operation of his career. He had been training with heavy strapping on his leg.

He is not expected to recover in time for Thursday’s (December 4, 2025) opening day at the Gabba in Brisbane, but England will be hoping he could return later in the series.

Australia leads 1-0 after an eight-wicket victory with three days to spare in Perth, where Wood bowled just 11 overs in total, returning 0-44.