🔗 Share this article Fast bowler Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Problems. 'Serious blow' 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 early on day two of the fourth Ashes Test versus the Australians. Atkinson pulled up with his left leg after the final ball that he bowled on Saturday. The England team reported Atkinson reported "discomfort" and would spend time off the field in order to be assessed "in the coming hours". The concluding match of the series beginning on 4 January gets underway this coming Sunday. The visitors have previously lost strike bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain on the current trip. A replacement bowler was called up to provide backup. His form was underwhelming early in the series, taking just a handful of scalps. He was omitted of the third Test, before being recalled for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI. Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, before adding 28 as a batsman as one of just three English batsmen to get into double digits. After bowling one over late on the first day, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper. Unfortunately, at the end of his spell, he bowled a slower ball to the batsman and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring. Atkinson was recalled for the Melbourne match having missed the previous Test.