Olly Pope has been drafted as wicketkeeper for England after Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow suffered finger injuries, which meant both were unable to field on the fourth day of the fourth Test.
Pope lost his place in the batting order to Bairstow and was not in the starting XI in the Sydney Cricket Ground Test, but moved in as a substitute fielder when England took the field on Saturday.
Butler was unable to take off the gloves due to an injury to his left forefinger earlier in the match, and backup gloveman Bairstow injured his thumb while scoring a century in England’s first innings.
The England team management said in a brief statement that both Buttler and Bairstow had been sent for medical scans and the results would be evaluated at the end of the Test match.
Bairstow’s thumb was hit on Friday by Pat Cummins which hit the top of the pitch.
He underwent treatment on the field before resuming his innings, but was finding it difficult to hold the bat.
“It takes a long time to get me out of the park,” Bairstow said.
“Yeah, it was sad but due to the playing conditions, I decided to stay out there.
“You’re playing a New Year’s Ashes Test match in Sydney in front of a big crowd and it will take a lot for you to take that away.”
Bairstow resumed her innings on Saturday and was eventually dismissed for 113. When Australia came out to bat, Bairstow was replaced in England’s fielding set by Craig Overton.
England have brought in limited overs specialist wicketkeeper Sam Billings as cover for Bairstow and Buttler ahead of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.
Billings, who played with Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash tournament, was to leave Sydney on Friday night for England’s Twenty20 series against the West Indies later this month. Instead, he would join the Test squad after a brief separation.
Ben Stokes is also a cause of concern for England after suffering a side strain while bowling in the first innings.
He also felt uncomfortable batting on his way to score 66 for England on Friday.
Meanwhile, Australia’s team management has confirmed that pacer Josh Hazlewood will not be available for the Hobart Test. He will be in Sydney to rehabilitate his side strain, which has left the 56-Test veteran ruled out of three Tests.
Scott Boland also caused concern for the Australia team when he needed to be taken for a precautionary scan on his ribs after a fall in his bowling on Friday.
The Australia team management said the 32-year-old pacer, who made a sensational debut in Melbourne to help Australia retain the Ashes, was “free of any damage” and returned to the match afterward.
Boland picked up two wickets in the early hours of Saturday to finish England’s first innings with figures of 4-36 to reach 11 wickets in his first three Test innings.
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