&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Ashes: England make two changes for Boxing Day Test; Ollie Pope dropped")
England announced their Playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test as they made a couple of changes to the side that was beaten in Adelaide. In an announcement made on Wednesday (Dec 24), England dropped Ollie Pope while Jofra Archer was ruled out of the remainder of the series. The visitors have roped in Jacob Bethell and Gus Atkinson, and despite a controversial viral video circulating, Ben Duckett has retained his place in the Playing XI.
England announce Playing XI
Having already lost the Ashes 3-0, England made two changes to the Playing XI that lost to Australia on Sunday. With Pope failing to impress, the English team management has decided to axe Pope, with Bethell getting an opportunity. The English batter has been in poor form and is yet to score a half-century against Australia across 16 innings and has been dropped for the second consecutive Ashes tour.
He captained England at the end of their home series against India earlier this year in Stokes' absence but was replaced as vice-captain before this series and has managed just 125 runs in his six innings, at an average of 20.83.
On the other hand, Atkinson is drafted into the Playing XI at the expense of Archer, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series. He will be returning to the UK next week and will be assessed in order to be fit for the T20 World Cup, which starts in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. Archer had a scan in Melbourne earlier this week, having complained about side strain after the Brisbane Test.
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England Playing XI for Boxing Day Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue.
