Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Worries.
'Significant concern' for the English camp after Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem.
Gus Atkinson further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the field on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
Atkinson felt a problem in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled during the morning session.
The England team indicated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and would spend time away from the action in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".
The final Test of the series at the SCG gets underway on Sunday, 4 January.
The English side has already lost strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain during this series.
Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, taking just three wickets.
He was omitted from the previous Test, before being recalled for the Melbourne Test in the playing XI.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps with the ball, then making 28 as a batsman among just a trio of English batsmen who passed ten runs.
Post a single over late on the first day, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, at the end of his spell, he sent down a slower ball to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring.
The English bowler was brought back for the Melbourne match having missed of the third.
