Paceman Gus Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Problems.

Gus Atkinson further complicated the injury concerns plaguing England upon exiting the ground on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test versus the Australians.

Atkinson experienced discomfort in his left leg after the final ball that he bowled on Saturday.

The England team indicated the 27-year-old reported "discomfort" and required time off the field in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".

The final Test of the tour beginning on 4 January gets underway at the end of the week.

England have already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood with a knee problem and another paceman with an abdominal strain on the current trip.

A replacement bowler was added to the party to provide backup.

The seamer had a tough time in the opening two Tests, taking just a handful of scalps.

He was dropped for the Adelaide match, only to be brought back for the Boxing Day match in the playing XI.

Surrey's Atkinson performed better in the fourth Test, claiming a couple of wickets with the ball, then making 28 while batting being one of only three teammates who passed ten runs.

Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he returned on Saturday morning and removed Scott Boland Scott Boland caught behind.

Yet, on the final ball of his spell, he bowled a change of pace to the batsman and immediately felt his left hamstring.