Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Injury Worries.
'Major setback' for England as Atkinson leaves the field due to a hamstring issue.
The English seamer added to England's injury problems after leaving the ground on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.
The pace bowler experienced discomfort in his left hamstring after the final ball of the fourth over on Saturday.
The touring camp stated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and was to take time on the sidelines for further assessment "during the day".
The series decider of the tour in Sydney starts this coming Sunday.
The English side has previously lost strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was called up as cover for Wood.
Atkinson struggled early in the series, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was omitted from the previous Test, before being recalled for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.
The county bowler performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman among just a trio of England players who passed ten runs.
After bowling one over at the end of day one, he resumed on Saturday morning and dismissed the nightwatchman edging to the keeper.
Yet, towards the conclusion of that over, he bowled a slower ball to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
Atkinson was recalled for the fourth Ashes Test having missed the previous Test.