Paceman Atkinson Exacerbates England's Fitness Worries.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue.
The English seamer increased England's injury problems when he left the playing area during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test versus the Australians.
The right-arm seamer experienced discomfort in his left leg post-delivery of the fourth over on Saturday.
The touring camp indicated Atkinson reported "discomfort" and required time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".
The series decider of the series at the SCG starts on Sunday, 4 January.
The English side has been without fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and Jofra Archer to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as injury reinforcement.
The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps.
He was left out from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test in the playing XI.
The county bowler improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, before adding 28 as a batsman as one of just three England players to reach double figures.
Post a single over late on the first day, he returned for the second day's play and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
However, at the end of that over, he delivered a slower ball to the batsman and promptly felt his left hamstring.
The English bowler was brought back for the Boxing Day Test following his omission of the third.
