Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Worries.
'Serious blow' for England after Atkinson leaves the field suffering a hamstring problem.
The English seamer added to England's injury problems when he left the ground during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson experienced discomfort in his left hamstring after the final ball in his spell at the MCG.
The touring camp stated the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".
The series decider of the tour at the SCG starts this coming Sunday.
The visitors have been without strike bowlers one seamer due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer because of a side injury on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was called up to provide backup.
The seamer had a tough time during the first two matches, claiming a mere a handful of scalps.
He was dropped for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement.
Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, claiming a couple of wickets in Australia's first innings, then making 28 while batting being one of only three England players to reach double figures.
Following a brief spell late on the first day, he resumed for the second day's play and had nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, at the end of that over, he sent down a variation to the batsman and promptly felt for his hamstring.
Atkinson was brought back for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the Adelaide game.
