🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Problems. 'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson goes off suffering a hamstring problem. Gus Atkinson further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the playing area during Saturday's play in the Melbourne Test versus the Australians. The right-arm seamer pulled up with his hamstring after the final ball in his spell at the MCG. The touring camp stated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time on the sidelines for further assessment "over the next few hours". The final Test in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January gets underway this coming Sunday. England have been without key quicks Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman to a side strain on the current trip. A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, taking just three wickets. He was dropped of the third Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test to fill the void. Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs with the bat being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs. After bowling one over late on the first day, he returned for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper. However, towards the conclusion of the fifth over, he sent down a variation to the batsman and immediately felt his left hamstring. Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match following his omission the previous Test.