Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Problems.
'Major setback' for England as Atkinson leaves the field suffering a hamstring problem.
The pace bowler further complicated the injury concerns plaguing England upon exiting the playing area on the second morning in the Melbourne Test versus the Australians.
The pace bowler experienced discomfort in his left leg post-delivery that he bowled during the morning session.
The England team stated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and was to take time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "during the day".
The series decider of the tour in Sydney begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have been without fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain on the current trip.
Matthew Fisher was added to the party as cover for Wood.
Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was left out for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.
The county bowler improved at the MCG, claiming a couple of wickets during the host's first knock, then making 28 while batting among just a trio of England players to get into double digits.
After bowling one over late on the first day, he returned the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
Yet, at the end of that over, he sent down a change of pace to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
Atkinson was brought back for the fourth Ashes Test having missed the previous Test.
