Paceman Gus Atkinson Adds to England's Fitness Worries.
'Serious blow' for England as Atkinson goes off due to a hamstring issue.
The pace bowler further complicated the injury concerns plaguing England when he left the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test versus the Australians.
The pace bowler experienced discomfort in his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled during the morning session.
Team management indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines for further assessment "during the day".
The concluding match of the series at the SCG begins on Sunday, 4 January.
The visitors have been without fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain on this Ashes tour.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests, taking just three wickets.
He was omitted for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Melbourne Test in the playing XI.
The county bowler performed better in the fourth Test, taking two wickets in Australia's first innings, and scoring 28 runs while batting as one of just three England players to reach double figures.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he resumed the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.
Yet, on the final ball of the fifth over, he delivered a slower ball to the batsman and immediately felt his left hamstring.
The English bowler returned to the side for the Boxing Day Test following his omission the Adelaide game.
