Seamer Gus Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Concerns.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson goes off with a hamstring injury.
Gus Atkinson increased the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the ground during Saturday's play in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
The right-arm seamer pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over at the MCG.
The touring camp indicated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and was to take time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The concluding match in this Ashes battle in Sydney starts at the end of the week.
The visitors have been without fast bowlers one seamer with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain on the current trip.
Matthew Fisher was added to the party to provide backup.
Atkinson struggled early in the series, managing only three wickets.
He was dropped for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.
Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs while batting among just a trio of English batsmen to reach double figures.
Following a brief spell in Australia's second innings, he returned for the second day's play and had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
Unfortunately, on the final ball of his spell, he delivered a slower ball to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
The English bowler was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test having missed of the third.