Paceman Atkinson Compounds England's Fitness Worries.

The pace bowler added to the fitness woes of the England squad after leaving the field during Saturday's play of the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

The pace bowler felt a problem in his left hamstring after the final ball that he bowled at the MCG.

The touring camp stated Atkinson felt some "soreness" and was to take time on the sidelines in order to be assessed "over the next few hours".

The final Test of the series at the SCG starts this coming Sunday.

England have previously lost key quicks Mark Wood to a knee injury and another paceman because of a side injury on this Ashes tour.

Matthew Fisher was brought into the squad to provide backup.

The seamer had a tough time during the first two matches, managing only three wickets.

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

The county bowler showed better form in Melbourne, bagging two scalps in Australia's first innings, then making 28 as a batsman among just a trio of English batsmen to get into double digits.

Following a brief spell at the end of day one, he resumed on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman taken by the wicketkeeper.

However, on the final ball of the fifth over, he sent down a change of pace to the batsman and suddenly grabbed his left hamstring.