Gus Atkinson withdraws from Australia ODI series as England bowling concerns mount

Gus Atkinson has been withdrawn from England’s white-ball series against Australia after suffering a thigh injury during the eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the final Test match of the summer.

Stand-in captain Ollie Pope said Atkinson will need to be rested ahead of England’s series in Pakistan, which begins on October 7.

“I think he’s doing well,” Pope said. “He’s got a couple of weeks off to recharge and rest.”

Atkinson still bowled 11 overs in Sri Lanka’s chase. He claimed the only wicket to fall on the fourth day, dismissing Kusal Mendis with a well-directed bouncer caught by Shoaib Bashir at fine leg.

“The way he played today and just talking to him, he says he already feels better today than when he first felt. [the injury]”It’s positive for us, so fingers crossed that everything goes well.”

Atkinson has had a stunning start to the season. Playing in all six of England’s Tests, he has taken 34 wickets at an average of just 20.2, bowling a relentless line and length at speeds consistently in excess of 85mph, in the manner of Australia’s Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Atkinson is now firmly established as a vital part of England’s attack in all conditions, with the management confident that his qualities will bring him success around the world.

The concern over Atkinson is a reminder that England’s fast bowlers have suffered a series of problems in recent years. Jofra Archer has not played Test cricket since 2021, while Mark Wood has suffered a string of injuries, with an elbow problem now ruling him out for the rest of the year. Josh Tongue, who impressed in the Ashes Test at Lord’s last summer, is currently sidelined with a pectoral injury.

Olly Stone has been called up to replace Atkinson in the ODIs against Australia. Stone’s choice indicates that England intend to prioritise high pace in building their white-ball bowling attack, just as they have done in the Tests. The Nottinghamshire fast bowler took seven wickets at an average of 29.4 in an impressive return to international cricket in the last two Tests against Sri Lanka. Stone has already played eight ODIs, taking eight wickets at an average of 39.6.

Stone’s call-up to the ODI squad comes at a time when his importance to the Test team is greater than ever. Stone is Wood’s closest replacement for England. If fully fit, he could hope to play four of the six Tests England have before Christmas – three each in Pakistan and New Zealand.

While there are signs that Stone is now more robust, his career has been littered with injuries. He underwent life-saving back surgery in 2021 and has since returned to full fitness. So far this summer, Stone has already bowled more shots in first-class cricket than in any year since 2015.

Stone, who turns 31 next month, is not on a central contract but is set to earn a new deal when the new contracts come into effect next month. Selection for the ODI squad means Stone could actually play far less than he would have if he had not been selected and was instead playing in the County Championship.

The three-Test series in Pakistan begins just four weeks after England’s Test summer ended. With Stone replacing Atkinson in the white-ball Test series against Australia, England will be hoping to deploy the two in tandem against Pakistan.

England have committed to fielding at least two fast bowlers in every Test team, namely two each of Wood, Atkinson, Stone, Archer and Tongue. To achieve this, England will have to manage these men carefully: resting the fast bowlers from lesser commitments, then releasing them when they are most needed.