🔗 Share this article Paceman Gus Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Problems. 'Major setback' for the English camp after Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue. The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the playing area on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia. Atkinson pulled up with his hamstring after the final ball of the fourth over on Saturday. The touring camp reported the 27-year-old felt some "soreness" and required time away from the action to undergo evaluation "over the next few hours". The final Test in this Ashes battle at the SCG gets underway at the end of the week. England have already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip. A replacement bowler was called up as injury reinforcement. The seamer had a tough time early in the series, claiming a mere a handful of scalps. He was dropped for the Adelaide match, then recalled for the Boxing Day match as Archer's replacement. Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets during the host's first knock, then making 28 as a batsman being one of only three English batsmen who passed ten runs. Following a brief spell late on the first day, he returned on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper. However, at the end of his spell, he delivered a change of pace to Travis Head and promptly felt his left hamstring. Atkinson was brought back for the Boxing Day Test having missed the previous Test.