🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Concerns. 'Major setback' for England after Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue. The English seamer further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the field on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series. The right-arm seamer felt a problem in his left leg post-delivery that he bowled at the MCG. The touring camp indicated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and would spend time on the sidelines for further assessment "in the coming hours". The concluding match of the series in Sydney starts this coming Sunday. The visitors have previously lost key quicks Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman because of a side injury on this Ashes tour. A replacement bowler was added to the party to provide backup. His form was underwhelming during the first two matches, claiming a mere a handful of scalps. He was left out for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the fourth Test in the playing XI. The county bowler performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, then making 28 while batting being one of only three English batsmen to get into double digits. Following a brief spell in Australia's second innings, he returned on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind. Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he bowled a slower ball to Travis Head and promptly felt for his hamstring. Atkinson was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test having missed the Adelaide game.