🔗 Share this article Fast bowler Atkinson Compounds England's Injury Worries. 'Serious blow' for the touring side as Atkinson is forced off suffering a hamstring problem. The pace bowler added to England's injury problems upon exiting the ground during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. The right-arm seamer experienced discomfort in his left leg after the final ball of the fourth over at the MCG. The England team indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines to undergo evaluation "in the coming hours". The final Test of the tour beginning on 4 January starts on Sunday, 4 January. The English side has previously lost key quicks Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain during this series. A replacement bowler was called up as injury reinforcement. Atkinson struggled early in the series, taking just three wickets. He was omitted for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test to fill the void. The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman as one of just three English batsmen who passed ten runs. Post a single over late on the first day, he came back on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper. Yet, at the end of that over, he bowled a variation to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring. Atkinson returned to the side for the Melbourne match following his omission the Adelaide game.