🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Injury Problems. 'Serious blow' for England after Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue. The English seamer increased the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series. The pace bowler felt a problem in his left hamstring after the final ball that he bowled on Saturday. The England team indicated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time away from the action for further assessment "in the coming hours". The concluding match in this Ashes battle at the SCG begins this coming Sunday. The visitors have already lost fast bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series. A replacement bowler was called up as cover for Wood. Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, managing only three wickets. He was dropped for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the fourth Test as Archer's replacement. Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets with the ball, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen to reach double figures. Following a brief spell late on the first day, he came back on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind. However, at the end of that over, he bowled a variation to the batsman and suddenly grabbed at his leg. The English bowler returned to the side for the Melbourne match after being left out the Adelaide game.