🔗 Share this article Fast bowler Atkinson Adds to the English team's Fitness Concerns. 'Serious blow' for England after Atkinson leaves the field suffering a hamstring problem. The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the ground during Saturday's play in the Melbourne Test against Australia. Atkinson pulled up with his left leg immediately following a delivery of the fourth over at the MCG. Team management indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time away from the action to undergo evaluation "during the day". The concluding match of the series beginning on 4 January gets underway on Sunday, 4 January. The visitors have been without fast bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer with an abdominal strain during this series. Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement. The seamer had a tough time during the first two matches, claiming a mere three wickets. He was dropped of the third Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement. Surrey's Atkinson improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, then making 28 with the bat as one of just three English batsmen who passed ten runs. Post a single over at the end of day one, he came back for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind. Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he bowled a slower ball to Travis Head and promptly felt for his hamstring. Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match having missed the Adelaide game.