Bad news for star player from Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026, he is ruled out of…

Rajasthan Royals pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out remaining two Tests of Ashes series due to left side strain.

Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer has been the stand-out performer for England in what has been a dismal campaign in Ashes 2025 series against Australia. Ben Stokes-led England side are already 3-0 down in the five-match series and have already surrendered the Ashes urn inside 11 days.

The two sides will next face off in the iconic Boxing Day Test match starting at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from Friday, December 26. England have suffered another massive blow with Archer now ruled out of the remaining two Test matches in the five-game series.

Archer is England’s leading wicket-taker with 9 scalps in 3 Tests and also scored his maiden half-century in Test cricket in the 3rd Test at the Adelaide Oval last week. The 30-year-old England fast bowler is now set to miss the remaining two Tests at the MCG and the SCG, either side of the New Year against Australia.

In the playing 11 announced by England for the Boxing Day Test, Archer’s place in the line-up will be take by all-rounder Gus Atkinson while out-of-form England batter Ollie Pope has been finally dropped and be replaced by Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Jacob Bethell.

Archer was bought for Rs 12.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year and has been retained for the same price for IPL 2026. He had returned to international cricket after a four-year absence in July and has been ruled out due to a side strain.

It is a massive disappointment for Archer, who has spent years battling elbow and back injuries in order to return to Test cricket. He returned to Test cricket against India at Lord’s five months back and has played five Tests before being hit by another injury.

“The effort that he’s put in over these three games has been exceptional,” said captain Ben 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.”

Jofra Archer will miss the rest of the series with a left side strain.

Get well soon, Jof! pic.twitter.com/ejsX0M49sz

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 24, 2025

Archer will return to the UK after the fourth Test to be assessed, after which a decision can be made on his availability for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, beginning on February 7. He had taken 5 for 53 in Australia’s first innings in Adelaide – his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket after six years.

Jacob Bethell had been bought by Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 2.6 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. England have already lost the services of Mark Wood due to injury in the middle of the Ashes, leading to a call-up for Surrey’s Matthew Fisher.

England XI for fourth Ashes 2025 Test

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