Fast bowler Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Worries.
'Significant concern' for England as Atkinson leaves the field suffering a hamstring problem.
The pace bowler added to the injury concerns plaguing England when he left the ground early on day two of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
The right-arm seamer pulled up with his left hamstring immediately following a delivery in his spell during the morning session.
Team management indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The concluding match of the series at the SCG begins this coming Sunday.
The visitors have been without strike bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was added to the party as injury reinforcement.
Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was left out of the third Test, then recalled for the Boxing Day match as Archer's replacement.
The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, before adding 28 as a batsman being one of only three England players who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over in Australia's second innings, he returned on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.
Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of his spell, he delivered a slower ball to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring.
Atkinson was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test following his omission the previous Test.