🔗 Share this article Seamer Atkinson Adds to England's Fitness Concerns. 'Major setback' for England after Atkinson leaves the field with a hamstring injury. Gus Atkinson further complicated the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the field early on day two in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series. The right-arm seamer pulled up with his left leg post-delivery of the fourth over at the MCG. Team management indicated the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and would spend time away from the action to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours". The series decider in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January begins on Sunday, 4 January. The English side has been without strike bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and another paceman to a side strain during this series. A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement. His form was underwhelming in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps. He was omitted from the previous Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement. The county bowler improved at the MCG, claiming a couple of wickets during the host's first knock, before adding 28 with the bat as one of just three England players to get into double digits. Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he returned on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper. Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of the fifth over, he bowled a slower ball to the batsman and immediately felt for his hamstring. The English bowler returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test having missed the Adelaide game.