Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Concerns.

The pace bowler added to England's injury problems when he left the ground during Saturday's play in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series.

The pace bowler felt a problem in his left hamstring post-delivery in his spell during the morning session.

Team management stated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and was to take time off the field in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".

The series decider of the series in Sydney begins on Sunday, 4 January.

England have previously lost fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain on this Ashes tour.

A replacement bowler was added to the party as cover for Wood.

His form was underwhelming early in the series, claiming a mere a handful of scalps.

He was left out from the previous Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test in the playing XI.

Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps with the ball, and scoring 28 runs while batting among just a trio of teammates to reach double figures.

Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he came back the next day and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.

Unfortunately, on the final ball of the fifth over, he bowled a slower ball to the batsman and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring.