Paceman Atkinson Adds to the English team's Injury Worries.

'Serious blow' for the touring side as Atkinson leaves the field with a hamstring injury.

The pace bowler added to the fitness woes of the England squad when he left the ground on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

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

Team management reported Atkinson had experienced "tightness" and was to take time away from the action in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".

The concluding match in this Ashes battle at the SCG begins on Sunday, 4 January.

The visitors have already lost strike bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman with an abdominal strain on the current trip.

A replacement bowler was added to the party as cover for Wood.

Atkinson struggled during the first two matches, managing only a handful of scalps.

He was omitted of the third Test, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test as Archer's replacement.

The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, claiming a couple of wickets in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs as a batsman being one of only three teammates to reach double figures.

After bowling one over in Australia's second innings, he returned the next day and had nightwatchman edging to the keeper.

Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of the fifth over, he delivered a change of pace to Travis Head and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring.