Seamer Gus Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Worries.
'Major setback' for England after Atkinson goes off with a hamstring injury.
The English seamer increased England's injury problems when he left the ground on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson felt a problem in his hamstring after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.
Team management indicated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time away from the action for further assessment "in the coming hours".
The final Test of the series beginning on 4 January starts this coming Sunday.
The visitors have been without key quicks Mark Wood due to knee trouble and another paceman because of a side injury on this Ashes tour.
Matthew Fisher was called up to provide backup.
Atkinson struggled early in the series, claiming a mere a handful of scalps.
He was omitted for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the Boxing Day match to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson improved at the MCG, claiming a couple of wickets during the host's first knock, and scoring 28 runs with the bat as one of just three England players to reach double figures.
Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he came back the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
Unfortunately, at the end of his spell, he delivered a variation to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed at his leg.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test following his omission of the third.
