🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Worries. 'Major setback' for the English camp after Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue. The English seamer added to the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. The pace bowler experienced discomfort in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled during the morning session. The England team reported the 27-year-old reported "discomfort" and was to take time off the field to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours". The series decider in this Ashes battle at the SCG starts at the end of the week. England have previously lost fast bowlers one seamer to a knee injury and another paceman because of a side injury on the current trip. Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, managing only a handful of scalps. He was left out from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the fourth Test in the playing XI. The county bowler improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs with the bat among just a trio of England players to get into double digits. Post a single over late on the first day, he returned the next day and removed Scott Boland taken by the wicketkeeper. However, towards the conclusion of his spell, he delivered a variation to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring. Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match after being left out the previous Test.