🔗 Share this article Seamer Atkinson Adds to the English team's Fitness Problems. 'Major setback' for the touring side as Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue. Gus Atkinson further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the playing area during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test versus the Australians. Atkinson pulled up with his left hamstring immediately following a delivery of the fourth over on Saturday. Team management reported Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and required time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "over the next few hours". The concluding match in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January starts on Sunday, 4 January. The visitors have already lost strike bowlers one seamer with a knee problem and another paceman because of a side injury during this series. A replacement bowler was called up as cover for Wood. His form was underwhelming early in the series, managing only three wickets. He was dropped from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test to fill the void. Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, then making 28 while batting being one of only three teammates to reach double figures. Post a single over late on the first day, he returned for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper. However, at the end of the fifth over, he sent down a variation to Travis Head and immediately felt at his leg. Gus Atkinson was brought back for the Melbourne match having missed the previous Test.