Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Problems.
'Major setback' for the English camp after Atkinson leaves the field with a hamstring injury.
The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the playing area on the second morning in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
Atkinson experienced discomfort in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over during the morning session.
The touring camp reported Atkinson felt some "soreness" and required time away from the action to undergo evaluation "during the day".
The final Test of the series beginning on 4 January starts on Sunday, 4 January.
The English side has been without fast bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, claiming a mere three wickets.
He was left out from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match as Archer's replacement.
The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps with the ball, and scoring 28 runs while batting among just a trio of English batsmen who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
Unfortunately, at the end of that over, he delivered a change of pace to the batsman and immediately felt his left hamstring.
The English bowler was brought back for the Melbourne match following his omission of the third.
