🔗 Share this article Fast bowler Atkinson Compounds the English team's Fitness Worries. 'Significant concern' for England as Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue. The English seamer increased England's injury problems when he left the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Atkinson pulled up with his left leg immediately following a delivery that he bowled at the MCG. The England team reported the 27-year-old reported "discomfort" and required time away from the action in order to be assessed "over the next few hours". The series decider of the tour in Sydney begins on Sunday, 4 January. England have already lost fast bowlers one seamer to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain during this series. Matthew Fisher was called up as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled early in the series, taking just three wickets. He was dropped for the Adelaide match, before being recalled for the fourth Test as Archer's replacement. Atkinson improved at the MCG, taking two wickets with the ball, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman as one of just three England players to get into double digits. Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he came back the next day and removed Scott Boland edging to the keeper. Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he delivered a slower ball to Travis Head and immediately felt at his leg. The English bowler returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test having missed the Adelaide game.