Paceman Gus Atkinson Adds to the English team's Fitness Problems.

'Serious blow' for the touring side as Atkinson is forced off due to a hamstring issue.

The pace bowler added to England's injury problems after leaving the ground on the second morning in the Melbourne Test versus the Australians.

The pace bowler pulled up with his hamstring immediately following a delivery that he bowled on Saturday.

The England team stated the 27-year-old had experienced "tightness" and was to take time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "in the coming hours".

The concluding match of the series beginning on 4 January begins at the end of the week.

The visitors have been without key quicks one seamer with a knee problem and another paceman to a side strain on this Ashes tour.

Matthew Fisher was called up as injury reinforcement.

The seamer had a tough time during the first two matches, claiming a mere three wickets.

He was dropped for the Adelaide match, before being recalled for the fourth Test to fill the void.

Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, bagging two scalps during the host's first knock, before adding 28 as a batsman as one of just three England players who passed ten runs.

After bowling one over late on the first day, he returned the next day and dismissed the nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.

However, towards the conclusion of that over, he sent down a change of pace to the batsman and immediately felt at his leg.