🔗 Share this article Paceman Gus Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Worries. 'Serious blow' for the touring side as Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem. The English seamer increased the injury concerns plaguing England upon exiting the playing area on the second morning in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series. The pace bowler felt a problem in his left leg after the final ball in his spell during the morning session. The touring camp stated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and required time away from the action for further assessment "during the day". The final Test in this Ashes battle in Sydney starts at the end of the week. The English side has previously lost fast bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and another paceman to a side strain during this series. A replacement bowler was added to the party to provide backup. His form was underwhelming early in the series, taking just three wickets. He was left out from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the fourth Test to fill the void. Atkinson improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, before adding 28 as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs. Post a single over at the end of day one, he came back the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper. Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he delivered a variation to the batsman and immediately felt for his hamstring. The English bowler was brought back for the Melbourne match following his omission the previous Test.