Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Worries.
'Serious blow' for the touring side as Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem.
Gus Atkinson increased England's injury problems upon exiting the field on the second morning in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
Atkinson pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery in his spell during the morning session.
Team management reported the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and was to take time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "during the day".
The series decider of the tour beginning on 4 January gets underway on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have been without strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain during this series.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was left out for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement.
Surrey's Atkinson improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 while batting as one of just three teammates who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he came back on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Unfortunately, on the final ball of the fifth over, he delivered a variation to the batsman and promptly felt at his leg.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test following his omission of the third.
