🔗 Share this article Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Fitness Concerns. 'Significant concern' for the English camp as Atkinson is forced off with a hamstring injury. The pace bowler added to the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the playing area early on day two in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series. The right-arm seamer experienced discomfort in his left leg after the final ball of the fourth over on Saturday. The England team stated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and required time on the sidelines to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours". The concluding match of the tour beginning on 4 January begins this coming Sunday. England have already lost strike bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain during this series. Matthew Fisher was called up as injury reinforcement. The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, taking just three wickets. He was dropped of the third Test, only to be brought back for the fourth Test in the playing XI. Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, before adding 28 as a batsman among just a trio of teammates to reach double figures. Post a single over at the end of day one, he came back for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper. However, towards the conclusion of that over, he bowled a variation to the batsman and suddenly grabbed at his leg. Atkinson returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the Adelaide game.