🔗 Share this article Paceman Gus Atkinson Compounds the English team's Fitness Worries. 'Serious blow' for the English camp as Atkinson goes off due to a hamstring issue. The pace bowler added to England's injury problems when he left the playing area during Saturday's play of the fourth Ashes Test versus the Australians. The pace bowler pulled up with his left leg after the final ball in his spell on Saturday. Team management reported Atkinson reported "discomfort" and was to take time off the field in order to be assessed "in the coming hours". The series decider of the series in Sydney starts on Sunday, 4 January. The visitors have been without fast bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer because of a side injury during this series. Matthew Fisher was added to the party as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, claiming a mere three wickets. He was left out from the previous Test, then recalled for the fourth Test as Archer's replacement. The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, then making 28 while batting being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs. Following a brief spell late on the first day, he returned for the second day's play and had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind. Yet, at the end of that over, he sent down a slower ball to Travis Head and promptly felt his left hamstring. Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match after being left out the previous Test.