Seamer Atkinson adds to England injury worries

Gus Atkinson’s absence from the field for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia added to England’s injury issues.

Atkinson, a pace bowler, injured his left hamstring after the final ball of his four-over bowling match on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

England said the 27-year-old was feeling some “soreness” and would take some time off to be evaluated “over the next few hours.”

On Sunday, January 4 (23:30 GMT on January 3), the final test of the series in Sydney will take place.

On this Ashes tour, England have already lost Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to side strains.

Matthew Fisher was assigned Wood’s cover. The two English seamers who haven’t yet appeared in the series are Matthew Potts and Isaac Fisher.

With just three wickets to his name, Atkinson struggled in the tour’s opening two Test matches.

He was recalled for the Boxing Day match in Melbourne as Archer’s replacement after being excluded from Adelaide’s third Test.

Atkinson, one of only three England players to score in double figures, improved at the MCG, taking two wickets in Australia’s opening match and bringing in 28 with the bat.

At the conclusion of Australia’s second innings, he returned on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.

He immediately felt for his hamstring after the fifth over of his spell, which was interrupted by a slower ball to Travis Head.