Seamer Gus Atkinson Compounds England's Injury Worries.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson goes off due to a hamstring issue.
Gus Atkinson increased the injury concerns plaguing England upon exiting the ground during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
The pace bowler felt a problem in his left leg after the final ball of the fourth over on Saturday.
The England team reported Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time away from the action to undergo evaluation "in the coming hours".
The series decider of the series in Sydney begins at the end of the week.
The English side has already lost strike bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
Matthew Fisher was called up to provide backup.
The seamer had a tough time early in the series, managing only three wickets.
He was dropped from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match as Archer's replacement.
Atkinson improved at the MCG, claiming a couple of wickets during the host's first knock, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman among just a trio of teammates who passed ten runs.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he resumed on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, at the end of his spell, he bowled a variation to Travis Head and promptly felt for his hamstring.
The English bowler was brought back for the Melbourne match following his omission of the third.
