England’s mounting injury problems worsened further during the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as seamer Gus Atkinson was forced to leave the field with a suspected hamstring issue.

The 27-year-old fast bowler pulled up after delivering the final ball of his spell on the second morning of the match, immediately clutching his left hamstring and signalling discomfort. The incident occurred during Australia’s second innings, raising fresh concerns for England just days before the final Test of the series in Sydney.

In a brief statement, England confirmed that Atkinson felt “soreness” in the hamstring and would remain off the field while the medical team assessed the severity of the injury over the following hours.

Another Blow to England’s Fast-Bowling Resources

Atkinson’s injury adds to a growing list of fitness setbacks for England’s pace attack on this Ashes tour. Mark Wood was already ruled out with a knee problem, while Jofra Archer suffered a side strain that ended his involvement in the series.

With the fifth and final Test scheduled to begin on Sunday, 4 January (23:30 GMT on 3 January), England’s bowling depth is being tested to its limits. Matthew Fisher was previously drafted into the squad as cover for Wood, while Matthew Potts remains another unused seaming option during the series.

The timing of Atkinson’s injury is particularly concerning given England’s recent struggles to maintain a consistent bowling attack throughout the tour.

Atkinson Showing Signs of Improvement

While Atkinson endured a difficult start to the Ashes, taking just three wickets across the opening two Tests, he had begun to show encouraging signs in Melbourne.

Left out of the third Test in Adelaide, the Surrey seamer earned a recall for the Boxing Day Test as Archer’s replacement and responded with a more composed performance. He claimed two wickets in Australia’s first innings and contributed a valuable 28 runs with the bat, one of only three England players to reach double figures in a low-scoring innings.

Atkinson also bowled one over late on day one before returning on the second morning, where he made an immediate impact by having nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.

However, his spell was cut short when he delivered a slower ball to Travis Head and instantly felt discomfort, ending his involvement for the session. He was replaced in the field by substitute Ollie Pope.

England Await Assessment Ahead of Sydney Test

England’s medical staff will now closely monitor Atkinson’s condition, with any significant hamstring injury likely to rule him out of the series finale. Given the short turnaround between Tests, even a minor strain could prove decisive.

With Australia already holding a commanding series lead, England face a race against time to piece together a fully fit bowling unit for Sydney, as injuries continue to disrupt their Ashes campaign.