Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Problems.
'Serious blow' for the touring side after Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem.
Gus Atkinson increased the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the field during Saturday's play in the Melbourne Test versus the Australians.
The pace bowler experienced discomfort in his left hamstring post-delivery of the fourth over at the MCG.
The touring camp reported Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time off the field to undergo evaluation "in the coming hours".
The series decider in this Ashes battle at the SCG starts at the end of the week.
The English side has been without key quicks Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was added to the party as injury reinforcement.
Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, taking just three wickets.
He was omitted from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, then making 28 as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over in Australia's second innings, he resumed on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, at the end of his spell, he bowled a slower ball to Travis Head and promptly felt for his hamstring.
The English bowler returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test after being left out of the third.
