Seamer Atkinson Compounds the English team's Fitness Problems.
'Major setback' for England as Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue.
The pace bowler increased England's injury problems when he left the playing area early on day two in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
The pace bowler felt a problem in his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled on Saturday.
The England team indicated the 27-year-old reported "discomfort" and required time off the field in order to be assessed "during the day".
The series decider of the tour beginning on 4 January starts this coming Sunday.
The English side has previously lost strike bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain during this series.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, claiming a mere three wickets.
He was omitted of the third Test, then recalled for the fourth Test to fill the void.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets with the ball, and scoring 28 runs with the bat being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he returned for the second day's play and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.
Unfortunately, at the end of that over, he sent down a variation to the batsman and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring.
Gus Atkinson was brought back for the Boxing Day Test after being left out of the third.
