Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates England's Injury Concerns.
'Serious blow' for the English camp as Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue.
Gus Atkinson added to the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the playing area on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test versus the Australians.
The right-arm seamer experienced discomfort in his left hamstring after the final ball that he bowled on Saturday.
The England team stated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time away from the action for further assessment "during the day".
The final Test of the tour in Sydney gets underway on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have previously lost strike bowlers one seamer to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad to provide backup.
The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was omitted for the Adelaide match, before being recalled for the Boxing Day match to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps with the ball, then making 28 as a batsman among just a trio of England players to get into double digits.
Following a brief spell late on the first day, he came back for the second day's play and removed Scott Boland edging to the keeper.
Unfortunately, at the end of his spell, he bowled a variation to the batsman and promptly felt for his hamstring.
The English bowler was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the previous Test.