Paceman Atkinson Compounds the English team's Injury Worries.
'Serious blow' for the English camp after Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue.
The English seamer increased the fitness woes of the England squad upon exiting the field early on day two in the Melbourne Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson felt a problem in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled at the MCG.
Team management stated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time away from the action to undergo evaluation "during the day".
The series decider of the tour in Sydney starts this coming Sunday.
The visitors have previously lost strike bowlers Mark Wood due to knee trouble and Jofra Archer because of a side injury on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was added to the party as cover for Wood.
His form was underwhelming early in the series, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was omitted from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.
Surrey's Atkinson showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 as a batsman being one of only three England players to reach double figures.
Post a single over at the end of day one, he returned on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
However, on the final ball of the fifth over, he delivered a change of pace to the batsman and suddenly grabbed for his hamstring.
The English bowler was recalled for the Boxing Day Test following his omission of the third.
