Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Concerns.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue.
Gus Atkinson increased the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the ground during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson pulled up with his left hamstring post-delivery of the fourth over at the MCG.
Team management reported Atkinson reported "discomfort" and required time away from the action to undergo evaluation "during the day".
The series decider of the tour at the SCG gets underway at the end of the week.
The English side has previously lost key quicks Mark Wood due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was called up to provide backup.
The seamer had a tough time during the first two matches, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was dropped for the Adelaide match, before being recalled for the Melbourne Test to fill the void.
The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets with the ball, then making 28 as a batsman as one of just three England players who passed ten runs.
Following a brief spell in Australia's second innings, he returned on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
However, on the final ball of that over, he bowled a slower ball to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring.
Atkinson was brought back for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the Adelaide game.
