Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates England's Injury Problems.
'Major setback' for England as Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue.
Gus Atkinson increased England's injury problems when he left the field on the second morning in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson experienced discomfort in his left leg after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.
Team management indicated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and would spend time away from the action in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The series decider of the tour at the SCG gets underway on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have previously lost fast bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was called up to provide backup.
Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was dropped from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets in Australia's first innings, before adding 28 with the bat among just a trio of teammates to get into double digits.
Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he came back the next day and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.
Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he sent down a change of pace to Travis Head and immediately felt his left hamstring.
Gus Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test having missed of the third.
