Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Concerns.
'Major setback' for the touring side as Atkinson goes off with a hamstring injury.
Gus Atkinson increased England's injury problems when he left the ground on the second morning in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
The pace bowler pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over on Saturday.
Team management reported the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and would spend time off the field for further assessment "in the coming hours".
The final Test in this Ashes battle in Sydney starts at the end of the week.
England have already lost strike bowlers one seamer with a knee problem and another paceman to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad to provide backup.
His form was underwhelming during the first two matches, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was dropped 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 in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs with the bat among just a trio of England players to get into double digits.
Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he returned on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, on the final ball of that over, he sent down a change of pace to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match having missed of the third.
