Paceman Gus Atkinson Compounds England's Injury Problems.
'Major setback' for England after Atkinson leaves the field 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 in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series.
The right-arm seamer pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled on Saturday.
Team management indicated the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and required time on the sidelines to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours".
The concluding match in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January starts at the end of the week.
The visitors have previously lost fast bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and another paceman because of a side injury on this Ashes tour.
Matthew Fisher was added to the party to provide backup.
Atkinson struggled early in the series, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was left out for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the fourth Test to fill the void.
Atkinson improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen to reach double figures.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Unfortunately, at the end of the fifth over, he sent down a slower ball to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match after being left out the previous Test.
