Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Problems.
'Serious blow' for the English camp after Atkinson goes off due to a hamstring issue.
Gus Atkinson added to the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the field on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.
The pace bowler felt a problem in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery in his spell during the morning session.
The England team indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time away from the action in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The final Test in this Ashes battle in Sydney starts at the end of the week.
The English side has already lost key quicks Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
The seamer had a tough time early in the series, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was omitted for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.
The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 with the bat as one of just three England players to reach double figures.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he came back for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of that over, he sent down a variation to the batsman and immediately felt for his hamstring.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test having missed the previous Test.
