Seamer Gus Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Worries.
'Major setback' for England as Atkinson goes off suffering a hamstring problem.
The pace bowler increased the injury concerns plaguing England when he left the ground during Saturday's play of the fourth Ashes Test in the Ashes series.
The right-arm seamer felt a problem in his left leg after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.
The England team indicated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and was to take time off the field in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The series decider in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was added to the party as injury reinforcement.
His form was underwhelming during the first two matches, taking just three wickets.
He was dropped from the previous Test, before being recalled for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement.
Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman among just a trio of teammates to get into double digits.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he came back the next day and had nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of the fifth over, he bowled a variation to the batsman and suddenly grabbed at his leg.
Atkinson returned to the side for the fourth Ashes Test after being left out the previous Test.
