🔗 Share this article Fast bowler Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Concerns. 'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue. Gus Atkinson increased the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the ground early on day two of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia. The right-arm seamer pulled up with his hamstring post-delivery in his spell during the morning session. Team management stated Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and would spend time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "during the day". The series decider in this Ashes battle beginning on 4 January gets underway on Sunday, 4 January. England have previously lost fast bowlers one seamer with a knee problem and Jofra Archer to a side strain during this series. Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad as cover for Wood. The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, claiming a mere a handful of scalps. He was left out from the previous Test, then recalled for the Melbourne Test to fill the void. Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs while batting among just a trio of English batsmen to get into double digits. Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he came back on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind. However, at the end of the fifth over, he delivered a change of pace to the batsman and promptly felt for his hamstring. Gus Atkinson was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the Adelaide game.