Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates England's Injury Concerns.

The pace bowler increased England's injury problems after leaving the playing area during Saturday's play of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

Atkinson experienced discomfort in his left hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled during the morning session.

Team management stated the 27-year-old reported "discomfort" and required time away from the action in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".

The series decider in this Ashes battle at the SCG gets underway at the end of the week.

England have already lost strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury 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, taking just three wickets.

He was left out of the third Test, then recalled for the fourth Test to fill the void.

Surrey's Atkinson improved at the MCG, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, before adding 28 while batting as one of just three English batsmen who passed ten runs.

After bowling one over late on the first day, he resumed for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.

Yet, on the final ball of the fifth over, he bowled a variation to the batsman and immediately felt for his hamstring.