Seamer Atkinson Exacerbates the English team's Injury Worries.
'Serious blow' for the English camp as Atkinson is forced off with a hamstring injury.
The pace bowler increased the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the ground on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes series.
Atkinson pulled up with his left hamstring after the final ball in his spell during the morning session.
The England team indicated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and would spend time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".
The final Test of the tour beginning on 4 January begins at the end of the week.
The English side has previously lost fast bowlers one seamer to a knee injury and another paceman to a side strain on the current trip.
A replacement bowler was brought into the squad as cover for Wood.
His form was underwhelming early in the series, managing only a handful of scalps.
He was omitted from the previous Test, only to be brought back for the fourth Test in the playing XI.
The county bowler improved at the MCG, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 as a batsman among just a trio of England players to reach double figures.
Post a single over in Australia's second innings, he came back on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.
Unfortunately, towards the conclusion of the fifth over, he bowled a change of pace to Travis Head and promptly felt at his leg.
Atkinson was recalled for the Boxing Day Test after being left out the previous Test.
