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Associated Press

Reuters

England pace bowler Gus Atkinson has joined the tourists’ mounting injury toll after being ruled out for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney with a hamstring injury, while Australian batsman Usman Khawaja will play in what could be his final appearance in the side.
Atkinson pulled up lame during the second morning of the Boxing Day Test and was officially ruled out after scans on Monday confirmed the injury in his left leg.
England have already lost star speedsters Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (side strain) during the series, with 27-year-old Matthew Potts expected to come into the team for the fifth Test starting on January 4, and join Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue in the attack.
Carse is now the only pacer remaining from the original four that took the field in Perth, believing they could tear through a brittle Australian batting line-up with lightning pace, but lost the series inside 11 days.
Atkinson played in the two heavy eight-wicket defeats in the first two Tests in Perth and Adelaide, before being dropped for Josh Tongue for the third Test in Adelaide.

He was recalled for the injured Archer for the Boxing Day Test, England’s first win in Australia since 2011, and had a series return of six wickets at 47.33.
Captain Ben Stokes and spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks also remain available as bowling options, as is specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, who is yet to play a match in the series.
Separately, Australia head coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed Usman Khawaja will play at Sydney Cricket Ground amid ‍media speculation it could be his last international.
The oldest player in an ageing squad, the 39-year-old lefthander’s spot in the line-up is under scrutiny following his demotion down the batting order ⁠and as selectors look to the future.
With the promoted Travis Head taking his opening spot, Khawaja batted at four in Adelaide and five in Melbourne.
While some reports in Australian media have suggested Sydney ‍could be Khawaja’s last international, McDonald said he had not had any conversations with ‍him about his future.
“There’s no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney,” McDonald said. “But ‌his performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection so I’d ‍say he’ll be there marking centre in Sydney.”
Khawaja has not spoken publicly of his plans and returned home to Queensland for a break with family ahead of the Sydney Test.
The ‌87-Test ⁠veteran suffered back spasms during the first game in Perth and missed the second match in Brisbane.
He is averaging just over 30 with the bat so far this summer and scored 82 at Adelaide Oval to help Australia seal ‌the series with two matches to spare.
However, he scored 29 and zero in his two innings in Melbourne as the ‌hosts slumped to a ‌four-wicket defeat.
While criticised for a soft dismissal in his second innings in Melbourne, Khawaja’s numbers stack up better than several Australian batters this series, including opener Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne and all-rounder Cameron Green.


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The Ashes

England’s Gus Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth Test with a hamstring injury. Photo: Reuters

Usman Khawaja departs after being dismissed by Gus Atkinson in the first innings of the fourth Test. Photo: Reuters

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Hong Kong’s Sun Ming-him (right) fires his side ahead at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Guangdong’s Huang Keqi (right) slides in to tackle Everton Camargo at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Hong Kong’s Steffi Sze (right) battles to keep possession during her side’s Hong Kong International Lacrosse Sixes semi-final against Second Era Leaders of Lacrosse. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong’s Lam Chung-yung take a shot during his side’s Hong Kong International Lacrosse Sixes semi-final against Germany. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sport

Cricket

England pace bowler Gus Atkinson joins ranks of walking wounded ahead of match in Sydney, with Matthew Potts poised for a first start of the series


England pace bowler Gus Atkinson joins ranks of walking wounded ahead of match in Sydney, with Matthew Potts poised for a first start of the series.


Injured Atkinson ruled out of final Ashes Test, but Khawaja set to play in Sydney

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}England pace bowler Gus Atkinson joins ranks of walking wounded ahead of match in Sydney, with Matthew Potts poised for a first start of the series

England pace bowler Gus Atkinson joins ranks of walking wounded ahead of match in Sydney, with Matthew Potts poised for a first start of the series